What to bring to your first meeting with an estate attorney

Bring numbers, not estimates

An attorney can only plan around what you can describe. Rough figures are fine, unknowns are not. Walk in with a list of what you own, what you owe, and where each item is held.

The asset list

• Property: addresses, how title is held, and any mortgages.
• Accounts: institution, account type, and approximate balance.
• Insurance: carrier, policy number, and current beneficiary.
• Business interests: entity name, your percentage, and any operating agreement.

Bring people, too

Half of an estate plan is naming people. Come with names, contact details, and a second choice for each role, because the attorney will ask.

1. Executor or personal representative, plus an alternate.
2. Guardians for any minor children, plus an alternate.
3. Financial and healthcare agents, plus alternates.

An hour of preparation is cheaper than an hour of legal time. Usually by a lot.

Finally, bring your questions in writing. The first meeting moves fast, and the things you meant to ask are the things you forget. The Bonduran readiness checklist produces this list for you if you would rather not build it from scratch.