What To Bring With You When Meeting Your Estate Planning Attorney For the First Time

Item 1: A list of questions.

If you’re new to the world of estate planning, you probably have a few questions you want the lawyer to answer. Write these down. As you progress through the meeting you should mark off the questions that are answered and make notes about what you discussed. New questions may arise during the meeting, so don’t hesitate to write these down and ask about them.

Item 2: Your financial information.

Much of your estate plan will revolve around your finances, your possessions and what you want to happen after you die. You should bring as much information about your finances as possible, but don’t feel the need to bring your property deeds, car titles, bank statements, etc. A list of your property with firm numbers instead of estimates is a great place to start so your attorney can get an idea of what you have to work with.

Item 3: Your spouse.

Estate planning for couples is not something you can do on your own. While you and your spouse can create parts of your estate plan on your own, you will need to coordinate so your plans compliment each other and take into consideration the other’s choices and desires. You’ll have to start by attending the meeting together so you can both start the process with a clear understanding of what you have to do next.