When you are ready to meet with an attorney and get an estate plan there are a few things that you can do before the meeting to make it more productive.
It is possible to be totally unprepared when you meet with an estate planning attorney for the first time. Under such a scenario, you can ask the attorney what things you need to consider. However, the first meeting will not be as productive as it could be.
Recently, the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog offered some tips about how you can prepare and make that first meeting with an estate planning attorney more productive in an article entitled "Getting Ready For The First Estate Planning Meeting."
The tips include:
- Put together a list of what you own and what you owe. In other words, what are your assets and liabilities? The more detail that you include, the better the attorney will be able to advise you.
- If you have any personal property with sentimental value, think about how you would want it distributed after you pass away.
- Think about possible candidates to serve as your executor and as your power of attorney.
- Consider whether you want to create trusts for children or grandchildren. If you might be interested in doing that, consider who might serve as a good trustee.
These few simple steps will go a long way toward making your first meeting with an estate planning attorney more productive. The attorney will have more information to consider when advising you about your estate plan.
Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (Feb. 6, 2016) "Getting Ready For The First Estate Planning Meeting."
