13 Things to Bring to Your First Estate Planning Meeting

We have found that our clients feel more comfortable coming to our office for their first estate planning meetings if they know what to expect from the meeting and what to bring with them.

You can expect that we will chat about your family, finances, health, goals, and concerns. We will make sure that all of your questions are answered and all of your concerns are addressed. We will design your estate plan and set a date for your to come back to sign your estate planning documents.

It would be helpful and move the estate planning process along efficiently if you would bring the following 13 things with you to our first meeting:

1. A written list of your questions or concerns.

2. Your up to date financial statement, if you have one.

3. Your most recent bank, investment, and retirement account statements.

4. The deed to your house.

5. Your previous estate planning documents.

6. Any prenuptial or marital agreements.

7. Copies of your retirement plan and annuity contracts as well as life insurance policies.

8. Contact information for your other professional advisors such as your general practice attorney, CPA, insurance professionals, and financial advisors.

9. Contact information for your general practitioner and any specialists that you see for a particular condition.

10. The contact information for family members, those you name in positions of authority (such as trustees, guardians, executors, and agents under a power of attorney), and clergy members.

11. A preliminary list of those you wish to name in positions of authority (such as trustees, guardians, executors, and agents under a power of attorney.)

12. A preliminary list of your estate planning goals.

13. Contact information for your favorite charities.

If you have any questions about anything on the above list or about your first estate planning meeting, simply call your estate planning attorneys office.