You do not need to have answers before your first meeting. You do need a clean picture of what you own, what you owe, and who matters. This checklist is what we ask clients to assemble.
Existing will, trust, powers of attorney, and health-care directives
Marriage certificate and any prenuptial or postnuptial agreement
Divorce decrees and child support / custody orders, if applicable
Deeds for all real property, including out-of-state
LLC operating agreements, partnership agreements, and shareholder agreements
Buy-sell agreements and key-person insurance documentation
Bank and brokerage accounts (institution, account type, approximate balance, beneficiary or POD/TOD)
Retirement accounts (401(k), IRA, Roth, pension) with current beneficiary designations
Life insurance policies (face amount, owner, beneficiary, cash value)
Crypto and self-custodied digital assets (separate, encrypted inventory)
529 plans, UTMA/UGMA accounts, and trusts already in place
Guardians for minor children (primary and successor)
Executor and successor executor
Trustee, successor trustee, and trust protector (if any)
Health-care agent and successor
Financial power of attorney agent
Charitable beneficiaries, if any
Next Step
Fixed-fee estate planning for clients in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio.
Drew Jacobs is licensed in New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice or an offer to represent you in a jurisdiction in which we are not licensed.