What You Need to Have Prepared Before Your Estate Planning Meeting

Planning your estate is one of the most important things you can do, and the sooner the better. However, people often have only a vague idea of what this means or how to get everything in order. You will need to work with an estate planning attorney for starters, as this will make the process easier and ensure it is done correctly.

Once you choose an attorney, you will have an estate planning meeting, which is meant to ensure you have a clear understanding of your goals. You also want to be sure you are using your time with the attorney efficiently, so it helps to prepare for the meeting.

Namely, you will need to make sure that you have certain information prepared before the meeting. Let’s look at some of the most important things you will need.

List of Your Questions

You are likely going to have quite a few questions and concerns. Make sure you write all of these down and take that list along with you to the meeting. You want the attorney to be able to answer all of those questions satisfactorily.

Names of Guardians and Conservators

If you have minor children, or you are considering having children, you should designate one or more guardians who will take the children and care for them in the event something happens to you.

Financial Statement and Inventory of Assets

You should have a financial statement and balances for all of your assets. You want to have an idea of your total net worth, as this information will make it easier to start planning your estate.

You will also want to have a list of all of your assets and who you want to be the beneficiaries of. Often, it will be the spouse and the children. That’s not always the case, though, at least not with all of the property. If there are certain items you want to go to other people, you will want to have this information for the estate planner.

Contact Information for Beneficiaries and Fiduciaries

Get the addresses, phone numbers, and emails of all beneficiaries, as well as those who are named as trustees, personal representatives, agents under a durable power of attorney, patient advocates, and guardians/conservators of minor children. You want all of the contact details in the estate plan.

These are some of the most important items you will want to bring along with you to the meeting. When you are setting up the meeting with Gandhi Selim Law, make sure that you ask her what you should bring in addition to the information mentioned above.