Where to Start: An Estate Planning Checklist

Before You Meet With an Attorney

Estate planning can feel overwhelming before you even start — mostly because it's unclear what "starting" actually looks like. This checklist breaks it into manageable steps, so you walk into a conversation with an attorney already prepared, not scrambling.

1. Take Stock of What You Have

  • List your major assets: home, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, investments

  • Note any debts or outstanding loans

  • Identify anything with sentimental (not just financial) value you want to specifically address

2. Think Through Who's Involved

  • Who do you want to inherit your assets?

  • If you have minor children, who would you want as their guardian?

  • Who do you trust to serve as your executor (the person who carries out your wishes)?

  • Is there anyone you specifically want to exclude, and do you understand your state's rules around that?

3. Consider Your "What If" Scenarios

  • Who would make medical decisions for you if you couldn't?

  • Who would manage your finances if you were incapacitated, even temporarily?

  • Do you have any specific wishes around end-of-life care?

4. Gather Key Documents

  • Existing wills, trusts, or estate planning documents (even outdated ones)

  • Deeds, titles, and account statements

  • Insurance policies

  • A list of digital accounts (email, banking, social media) and how you'd want them handled

5. Decide What You're Not Sure About
It's completely normal not to have every answer yet. Note down:

  • Questions you have about how a will, trust, or power of attorney would apply to your situation

  • Anything about your family situation that feels complicated (blended families, business ownership, out-of-state property)

  • Concerns about cost, timeline, or the process itself

You Don't Need to Have It All Figured Out

This checklist isn't meant to replace a conversation with an attorney — it's meant to make that conversation more productive. Most families come in with incomplete answers, and that's exactly what an experienced estate planning attorney is there to help sort through.

Ready to put a plan in place?

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Inheritory is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We connect families with independent, licensed attorneys.

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