Where do you start?

First, evaluate your present and future needs, desires, hopes, and those of your family members. Make a list of who the important people are in your life, where they live, and what they need and under what circumstances and conditions you wish to benefit each of them. For example, commonly people wish to provide for the health, maintenance and comfort of their surviving spouse/partner to the fullest extent possible and then pass all remaining assets to their children.

If you don't have an estate plan, you have now created the basic building blocks with which to make one. If you already have a plan, outline it briefly and compare it to your objectives. You should review and revise your estate plan so it keeps pace with the changes in your life.

ESTATE PLANNING QUESTIONNAIRE: Effective estate planning requires that all relevant information concerning your personal, family and financial situation be assembled. This form as been prepared to aid you in organizing that information. If insufficient space is provided for any information, please include it on a separate sheet.