Preparing for Your Estate Plan Meeting

Before you hold your estate plan meeting with Paul Holland, spend time thinking about your goals and objectives. For example:

• Managing your affairs if you become incapacitated.
• Making certain your family members are financially cared for.
• Avoiding probate.
• Protecting your children from losing their assets in divorce.
• Limiting taxes and fees.
• Determining which assets pass to certain beneficiaries.

The completed questionnaire provides Paul with an in-depth understanding of your family and financial situation so that he can apply his decades of experience to your estate plan. The completed forms will save time in the meeting for more important discussions addressing your wishes and concerns.

ESTATE PLANNING INFORMATION

For your estate plan meeting, collect these records:

1. Financial statements that show who owns each account. The first page of your most recent investment and bank account statements will suffice.
2. Deeds to real estate.
3. Life insurance policy information, including the beneficiary designations.
4. Business agreements that show full or partial ownership of any closely held companies.
5. Information regarding any current or anticipated inheritances, and any current or future interests you may have in trusts.

WHAT YOU WILL DO IN THE ESTATE PLAN MEETING

Paul will talk with you about much more than finances. With his guidance, you will:

• Discuss special circumstances that could affect planning and arrangements for assets and liabilities.
• Outline how you want your assets distributed
• Determine whom you would like to receive your property. What personal belongings should go which person?
• Put into writing what you may want leave, to a charitable organization.
• Select who will serve as Executor of your Will. This can be an enormous responsibility.
• Consider who should serve as Trustee of the trust established after your death. Keep in mind, Independent Trustees cannot be family members or employees.
• Choose a Guardian for any minor children.
• Decide who should be named Health Care Agent. This person will instruct physicians on life-and-death matters and decide if treatment or palliative care is appropriate.
• Consider who should hold power of attorney for your finances in the event of your incapacity.
• Write instructions for your funeral arrangements.
• Select alternates to Executor, Independent Trustee, Guardian, and attorney in fact should your first choices be unable or unwilling to fulfill those duties.

While collecting information and pondering important decisions regarding your estate, call the office of Holland Probate Law with any questions. There will likely be issues you never considered before. They deserve to be addressed. There will be complex elements that need to be talked through so that you can advance the planning with confidence.

Your questions will help Paul Holland understand your concerns and address them with the knowledge and patience for which he is well-known. He is here to provide answers in the first planning session and subsequent meetings until the plan meets your approval.