Okay, so you have finally taken the plunge. You have put the procrastination behind you, picked up the phone, and set up an initial consultation with an estate planning attorney to put an estate plan in place reflecting your current wishes.
You have a date and a time, and you want to get prepared. What type of information are you going to need to be able to convey to your attorney?
Family Dynamic
There are a number of things that your lawyer will ask you about. Your family dynamic will be one of them, so you will have to explain your marital status and let your attorney know if you have children and grandchildren. Whether or not you have been previously married is going to be a relevant factor as well.
Your own age and the ages of the people on your inheritance list will also be information that your attorney is going to need to know.
Financial Situation
It is a good idea to compile a statement of net worth and bring it along with you when you go to your initial consultation. This is a balance sheet that provides a written accounting of your financial assets and liabilities.
Existing Estate Planning Documents
Your attorney is definitely going to want to know about any existing estate planning documents that you may have previously executed. If you have already signed a last will or created a living trust bring the documents along so that your lawyer can proceed accordingly as you refine your plan to reflect your current objectives.
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