For different estate planning documents you will need to gather different types of information. Below are typical legal and financial accounts, and the types of documentation you should get together to be best organized.
For a printable checklist of all the documents you might need to collect, use our resource Checklist: Documents to Organize and Share.
Will
- Copy of the Will
- Copies of previous versions of the Will
- Name of attorney, law firm, or online service that helped create the Will, if applicable
Related Read: All You Need To Know About Creating A Will
Trusts
- Declarations of Trust or Trust agreements
- Name of attorney, law firm, or online service that helped create the Trust, if applicable
- Bank accounts associated with the Trust
Related Read: All You Need To Know About Trusts
Power Of Attorney
- Name of the person appointed to Power Of Attorney
- Power Of Attorney documentation
- Name of attorney, law firm, or online service that helped create the POA, if applicable
Related Read: All You Need To Know About Naming A Power Of Attorney
Advance Directive
- An Advance Directive is the combination of a Living Will and naming a Health Care Proxy.
- You can find your state's Advance Directive form here.
- Make sure your Proxy, doctors, and anyone else important in your life know where you keep this document since it can be vital during a medical emergency.
Related Read: All You Need To Know About Advance Directives
Safe deposit box
- Location of safe deposit box
- Safe deposit box keys or location of safe deposit box keys
Any professionals who have helped
- Lawyer
- Financial Advisor/Accountant
- Insurance agent
Info to gather for each person:
- Name
- Contact information
For a printable checklist of all the documents you might need to collect, use our resource Checklist: Documents to Organize and Share.
