ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST
Checklist
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Do you have a Will?
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If you have minor children, do you have a current Will which names Guardians?
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Do you have pets? Do you know how they will be taken care of should you pass before them?
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Do you have Living Trust? Have you transferred your assets into it?
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In case you become disabled, have you nominated someone to handle your financial affairs?
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Do you have a current Health Care Power of Attorney that provides the names, addresses and telephone numbers of your designated agents to handle your medical care if you’re disabled?
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Do you have provisions in your Trust or Will that address the issue of death taxes?
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If you want to make gifts to charities at your death, are they clearly set forth in your planning documents?
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Do your planning documents clearly set forth how your personal property will be distributed at your death?
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Since you signed your planning documents, have you changed your mind about any aspect of the plan?
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Has the value of your assets substantially changed since you signed your planning documents?
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Have you substantially changed the kind of assets you own since your planning documents were signed?
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Have you recently been married, divorced or widowed since your estate planning documents were signed?
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Have you had children since your estate planning documents were signed?
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Have your children had children?
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Have any of your children been married, divorced or died since your planning documents were signed?
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Have you, your spouse or child become physically or mentally incapacitated since your planning documents were signed?
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Have you bought or sold a house or other piece of property since your planning documents were signed?
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Are you contemplating selling stock or other valuable assets with a low cost basis?
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Have you moved between states since your planning documents were signed?
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If you have a Living Trust, are Medicaid triggers in place to ensure that at the appropriate time Medicaid planning can be implemented?