Estate Planning

I ask all of my Will and Trust legal clients to prepare a 3 ring binder with copies of important documents like deeds, beneficiary pages from life insurance policies, a copy of recent statements from banks and brokerage houses, retirement accounts, information about their accountant, minister, banker, and broker and so forth.

Organizing this information really helps a spouse, personal representative, or trustee do their jobs. I offer the free Estate Planning Data Sheet for you to download and fill out to help yourself and your loved ones. You fill out the individual sheets, and then summarize them in the front. Remember to list husband, wife, and joint assets and liabilities in their respective columns, not lumped together.