Information You Need to Plan Your Estate
It is helpful to have as much information on hand as possible when planning an estate:
- Names, addresses, and birth dates of all people (related or not) that you plan to name in your will
- Name, address, and telephone number of the person(s) you plan to name as the executor of your will
- If you have minor children: names, addresses, and telephone numbers of potential guardians
- Amount/source of your principal income and any other income (such as interest and dividends)
- Amount/source/beneficiaries of your retirement benefits. This includes IRAs, pensions, Keogh accounts, government benefits, and profit-sharing plans
- Amount/source/beneficiaries of other financial assets such as bank accounts, annuities, and loans due you
- Amount of your debts: including mortgages, installment loans, and business debts
- A list (including approximate values) of valuable property you own, including: real estate, furniture, collections, jewelry, heirlooms, or other assets
- A list and description of any jointly-owned property, with names of the co-owners
- Documents that could affect your estate plan, including: prenuptial agreements, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, tax returns, wills and trust documents, property deeds, etc.
- Location(s) of any safe-deposit boxes and an inventory list of its contents