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Planning 101
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Estate Planning Information
In planning your estate, it's helpful to have as much of the following information on hand as possible.
- The names, addresses, and birth dates of your spouse, children, and other relatives whom you might want to include in your will. List any disabilities or other special needs they may have.
- The names, addresses, and phone numbers of possible guardians (if you have young children) and executors or trustees.
- The amount and sources of your income, including interest, dividends, and other household income, such as your spouse's salary or income your children bring home, if they live with you.
- The amounts and sources of all your debts, including mortgages, installment loans, leases, and business debts.
- The amounts and sources of any retirement benefits, including IRAs, pensions, Keogh accounts, government benefits, and profit sharing plans.
- The amounts, sources, and account numbers of other financial assets, including bank accounts, annuities, outstanding loans, etc.
- A list of life insurance policies, including the account balances, issuer, owner, beneficiaries, and any amounts borrowed against the policies.
- A list (with approximate values) of valuable property you own, including real estate, jewelry, furniture, jointly owned property (name the co-owner), collections, heirlooms and other assets. This list could be cross-referenced with the names of the people you might want to leave each item to.
- Any documents that might affect your estate plan, including prenuptial agreements, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, recent tax returns, existing wills and trusts, property deeds, and so on.
ABA Guide to Wills and Estates
Copyright 1999, 2000, 2002 American Bar Association
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