Estate Planning Basics Checklist

15 items · Lifestyle · Hard difficulty · 2 hours

Essential estate planning steps to protect your family and assets.

• Gather personal and family details

  Collect full names, dates of birth, SSNs/IDs, marriage and divorce records, and child info.

• List assets, accounts, and debts

  Include real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement, life insurance, and loan info.

• Inventory digital assets and passwords

  Record email, social, cloud storage, crypto, and password manager location.

• Choose and appoint an executor

  Select a trustworthy person or professional to manage your estate.

• Notify chosen executor and confirm willingness

  Discuss responsibilities, fees, and provide contact details.

• Draft a will with a solicitor

  Work with a qualified attorney to document asset distribution and legal wishes.

• Specify guardianship and trust instructions

  Name guardians for minors and outline any trusts or special bequests.

• Review and sign the will with witnesses

  Follow state witness/notary rules and keep the original safe.

• Set up a durable power of attorney for finances

  Grant a trusted agent authority to manage bank and legal matters if incapacitated.

• Set up a health care power of attorney and advance directive

  Document health care wishes and appoint a health proxy for medical decisions.

• Update beneficiary designations on accounts and policies

  Check retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death listings.

• Create a funeral preference document and letter of instruction

  Record burial/cremation wishes, organ donation, and any service details.

• Secure original documents and record safe locations

  Store wills, powers of attorney, deeds in a safe deposit box or with your solicitor.

• Provide access instructions and keys/passwords to executor

  Give executor details for safe deposit boxes, digital access, and document locations.

• Schedule regular review and update of the plan

  Revisit after major life changes or every 3–5 years and update documents.

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