What Should I Bring to an Initial Estate Planning Meeting?

Q: What should I bring to an initial estate planning meeting?

You should bring: previous estate planning documents; a net worth statement; copies of deeds to real property (if readily available); the most recent monthly statements for all bank accounts; the most recent monthly statements for all non-retirement brokerage and/or mutual fund accounts; the most recent monthly statements for all retirement accounts, including 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, deferred compensation plans, Roth IRAs, etc.; information regarding life insurance policies (company name and address, policy number and face amount); and dates of birth, social security number, and addresses for children.

Q: What should I consider before my initial estate planning meeting regarding trustees, executors, and agents?

Please consider the individuals whom you would like to name as trustees of your trust, executors of each of your Wills, and agents to act for you for financial matters and for health matters. (Your trustees, executors, and agents may be the same persons.) However, for your trustee and agents for financial matters, it is recommended (if possible) to choose persons who have some financial experience or are able to understand/learn financial concepts fairly easily.

Q: What should I bring to an initial meeting regarding estate administration or probate?

You should bring: a net worth statement of the deceased showing all assets owned at death and all debts/liabilities; all estate planning documents of the deceased, if any, including wills, codicils, trusts, and amendments; and account statements for all bank and brokerage accounts as close to death as possible.

Q: What should I bring to an initial meeting regarding income tax planning and tax return preparation?

You should bring: prior tax returns for 2–3 years, with all attached schedules and supporting workpapers, if available; and all tax workpapers for the year of tax return preparation, including but not limited to W-2s for all wage income, 1099-INT for interest income, 1099-DIV for dividend income, 1099-B for capital transactions, 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income, Social security statements, 1098 for mortgage interest, real property tax bills, charitable contribution receipts, and all other documentation showing income or potentially deductible expenses. A tax organizer with a comprehensive list of items to bring can be provided.

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Estate Planning

You should bring the following with you to an initial meeting regarding estate planning:

Previous estate planning documents
Net worth statement
Copies of deeds to real property (if readily available)
Most recent monthly statements for all bank accounts
Most recent monthly statements for all non-retirement brokerage and/or mutual fund accounts
Most recent monthly statements for all retirement accounts, including 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, deferred compensation plans, Roth IRAs, etc.
Information regarding life insurance policies, i.e., company name and address, policy number and face amount
Dates of birth, social security number and addresses for children

In addition, please consider the individuals whom you would like to name as trustees of your trust, executors of each of your Wills, and agents to act for you for financial matters, and agents to act for you for health matters. (Your trustees, executors, and agents may be the same persons.) However, for your trustee and agents for financial matters, we recommend (if possible) persons who have some financial experience or are able to understand/learn financial concepts fairly easily.

Estate Administration
and Probate

You should bring the following with you to an initial meeting regarding estate administration/probate:

A net worth statement of the deceased, showing all assets owned at death and all debts/liabilities
All estate planning documents of the deceased, if any, including wills, codicils, trusts, and amendments
Account statements for all bank and brokerage accounts as close to death as possible

Income Tax

You should bring the following with you to an initial meeting regarding income tax planning and tax return preparation:

Prior tax returns for 2–3 years, with all attached schedules and supporting workpapers, if available.

All tax workpapers for the year of tax return preparation, including but not limited to W-2s for all wage income, 1099-INT for interest income, 1099-DIV for dividend income, 1099-B for capital transactions, 1099-MISC for miscellaneous income, Social security statements, 1098 for mortgage interest, real property tax bills, charitable contribution receipts, and all other documentation showing income or potentially deductible expenses. We would be happy to send you a tax organizer with a comprehensive list of items to bring in preparation for your meeting.

What Should I Bring to an Initial Estate Planning Meeting?

Estate Planning

Estate Administrationand Probate

Income Tax

Estate Administration
and Probate