Estate Planning Checklist
An estate planning checklist for goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, guardians, executor, will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, and document storage.
Built for estate planning conversations: goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, executor, guardianship, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, document storage, and review triggers.
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- Items
- 8 editable tasks
- Time / effort
- 15-45 minutes per session
- Best for
- An estate planning checklist for goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, guardians, executor, will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, and document storage.
- Focus
- An estate planning checklist for goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, guardians, executor, will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, and document storage.
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Quick answer
What this checklist is for
Built for estate planning conversations: goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, executor, guardianship, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, document storage, and review triggers.
- Best for
- An estate planning checklist for goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, guardians, executor, will, trust, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, and document storage.
- Core checklist items
- Write the main goals for an estate plan, including family protection, guardianship, asset transfer, incapacity planning, charitable gifts, business continuity, or privacy concerns, List assets, debts, real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, insurance, business interests, vehicles, valuables, and digital accounts, Review beneficiary designations, account titling, joint ownership, payable-on-death details, life insurance beneficiaries, retirement accounts, and transfer-on-death records, Choose questions for executor, trustee, guardian, financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, and backup decision makers, Gather existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, marriage or divorce records, adoption records, property deeds, and prior attorney notes
Printable estate planning checklist
- Write the main goals for an estate plan, including family protection, guardianship, asset transfer, incapacity planning, charitable gifts, business continuity, or privacy concerns
- List assets, debts, real estate, bank accounts, investments, retirement accounts, insurance, business interests, vehicles, valuables, and digital accounts
- Review beneficiary designations, account titling, joint ownership, payable-on-death details, life insurance beneficiaries, retirement accounts, and transfer-on-death records
- Choose questions for executor, trustee, guardian, financial power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, and backup decision makers
- Gather existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, marriage or divorce records, adoption records, property deeds, and prior attorney notes
- Prepare attorney or advisor questions about wills, trusts, probate, taxes, guardianship, incapacity, beneficiary conflicts, document witnesses, and state-specific requirements
- Decide where final documents, passwords, contact lists, funeral wishes, insurance records, and emergency instructions will be stored and who should know where they are
- Set review reminders after marriage, divorce, birth, death, move, property purchase, business change, beneficiary change, or major asset change
How to use this checklist
Built for estate planning conversations: goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, executor, guardianship, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, document storage, and review triggers. Bookmark /estate-planning-checklist/ if you use this checklist repeatedly.
Planning tips for this checklist
Gather facts before documents
Estate planning conversations move faster when assets, debts, beneficiaries, existing documents, family roles, and open questions are organized before document drafting begins.
Separate wishes from legal execution
The checklist can capture goals, guardianship questions, healthcare wishes, and trusted people, while qualified professionals handle state-specific documents and formal requirements.
Plan for updates
Estate plans should not freeze after signing. Add review reminders for marriage, divorce, children, death, moves, property purchases, business changes, and beneficiary changes.
Frequently asked questions
What should an estate planning checklist include?
Include goals, assets, debts, beneficiaries, executor, trustee, guardianship questions, powers of attorney, healthcare wishes, existing documents, document storage, and review triggers.
What documents should I gather before an estate planning appointment?
Gather account lists, deeds, insurance policies, beneficiary designations, existing wills or trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, family records, debt information, and questions for the attorney.
Is this estate planning checklist legal advice?
No. It is an organization tool. Estate documents, taxes, probate, guardianship, trusts, and state-specific requirements should be reviewed with qualified legal or financial professionals.