What to Expect at Your First Estate Planning Conference
By: Jason Simmons | Published May 25, 2016
So you have decided that you need to have estate planning documents prepared and have taken the first step to contact our office. The initial conference is when we will learn about you, your assets and what your goals are for your estate planning, and you will have an opportunity to get to know us.
When scheduling an appointment to meet with one of our attorneys, the receptionist would have collected some basic information such as your name, your spouse’s name, your address, phone number, and possibly your e-mail address. This information is needed to be able to send you a welcome packet. The welcome packet is used to confirm your appointment date and time, but also to provide you with directions to our office, a list of items to bring with you, and a confidential client information sheet.
Completing the confidential client information sheet is very helpful and will save time during our first meeting. When completing the information sheet, we are looking for information for the clients as well as those persons who might be listed as a beneficiary of the estate or asked to serve as an alternate fiduciary in one of the documents. Additionally, we will need to know what assets you have, how they are titled – individually or with someone else, their approximate values, and whether you have any named beneficiaries. With this information, we can work towards creating an estate plan that meets your goals.
Oftentimes, the persons who will fill the various roles and be a beneficiary of the estate will include family members, such as children, siblings or parents. On occasion, it may be close friends, or if you are so inclined, one or more charities to take part or all of your estate after your death.
Some of the questions that need answered include the following:
● For Healthcare Powers of Attorney
○ Your Attorney in Fact
○ First & Second Alternates
● For General Durable Powers of Attorney
○ Your Attorney in Fact
○ First & Second Alternates
● Your Last Will & Testament
○ Your Personal Representative
○ First & Second Alternates
○ Where you want your property to go
○ If you have minor children – who will serve as guardian for them (primary and first alternate)
● Your Revocable Trust (if needed)
○ Your successor trustees – First and Second Alternates
○ Where you want your property to go
(If you want to learn more about these documents, please visit our glossary page.)
Our goal at Cripps & Simmons is to prepare a customized estate plan tailored just for you. Knowing what your goals are and who you want to fill various roles within the documents will help us in preparing that plan. We look forward to meeting with you!