This page provides a preliminary checklist for estate planning. This information will save you time and money, if you get it ready before you go to your estate planning lawyer’s office. Every estate planner will probably need the following:

1) Names and current addresses of your immediate family members and of those people you would like to serve as executors, trustees and guardians of your children.

2) Bank account information, such as balances, account numbers, locations of accounts and safe deposit boxes.

3) Pension and retirement account information, including IRAs, Keoghs, profit sharing plans, stock options and government benefits.

4) A detailed account of any stocks and bonds owned.

5) Insurance policy information, including policy location and beneficiaries and a copy of the actual policy.

6) An inventory of all personal possessions of value, be it personal or monetary; this includes family heirlooms.

7) Copies of community property agreements, marital agreements (prenuptial or postnuptial), divorce decrees and any previous wills or will codicils.

8) An overview of your income sources and assets, including real estate.

9) A detailed list of all debts owed, including amounts and to whom they are owed.

10) A preliminary list of specific “bequests” you wish to make in your will, such as “$500 to my grandson, Bobby.”

11) Tax returns from the previous three or four years.

An Estate Planner can provide answers to all questions and concerns regarding estate planning and estate law.