✅Estate Planning Starter Checklist

[ ] Last Will and Testament — Status: [Have it / Need to create / Need to update]. Location: [where it's stored]. [ ] Living Trust (if applicable) — Status: [Have it / Not sure if I need one]. Notes: [any details]. [ ] Power of Attorney (Financial) — Designated person: [name]. Status: [current / needs updating]. [ ] Healthcare Power of Attorney — Designated person: [name]. Status: [current / needs updating]. [ ] Living Will / Advance Directive — Status: [Have it / Need to create]. My wishes: [brief summary of healthcare preferences]. [ ] Beneficiary Designations — Last reviewed: [date]. Accounts covered: [list].

Executor of Will: [Name, phone, email] — The person responsible for carrying out the instructions in your will. Guardian for Minor Children: [Name, phone] — Who would raise your kids? Have you discussed this with them? Trustee: [Name, phone] — If you have a trust, who manages it? Healthcare Proxy: [Name, phone] — Who makes medical decisions if you can't? Financial Power of Attorney: [Name, phone] — Who handles your finances if you're incapacitated? Attorney: [Name, firm, phone] — Your estate planning lawyer. Financial Advisor: [Name, firm, phone]. Accountant: [Name, firm, phone].

Bank Accounts: [List accounts with bank names, approximate balances, and who has access] Retirement Accounts: [401k, IRA, pension — institution names and approximate values] Investment Accounts: [Brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds] Real Estate: [Properties owned, approximate values, mortgage details] Insurance Policies: [Life, health, property — policy numbers, companies, beneficiaries] Debts and Liabilities: [Mortgage, car loans, student loans, credit cards with approximate balances] Business Interests: [Any business ownership, partnership agreements]

[ ] Talk to [spouse/partner name] about: [topics, e.g., 'our financial picture, what happens if one of us is incapacitated, where all the passwords are'] [ ] Talk to [adult children] about: [topics, e.g., 'where the will is, who the executor is, our wishes for end-of-life care'] [ ] Talk to [designated guardian] about: [topics, e.g., 'whether they're truly willing to take on this role, our parenting wishes'] [ ] Talk to [executor] about: [topics, e.g., 'where all documents are stored, any specific wishes not in the will'] [ ] Talk to [financial advisor/attorney] about: [topics, e.g., 'reviewing and updating our plan']

My top priorities in the next 30 days: 1. [Most urgent action, e.g., 'Schedule a meeting with an estate planning attorney to create/update my will'] 2. [Second priority, e.g., 'Update beneficiary designations on my retirement accounts — they haven't been reviewed since [year]'] 3. [Third priority, e.g., 'Have the guardian conversation with [name] — we've been putting this off'] 4. [Fourth priority, e.g., 'Organize all financial documents in one location and tell [spouse] where to find them'] 5. [Fifth priority, e.g., 'Create or update my healthcare directive']