What to gather before a meeting

You don't need to upload any of this anywhere — just gather it for yourself. General categories are fine; you don't need exact balances for this guide.

• Any existing estate planning documents — wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care documents.
• A broad inventory of your assets and debts (general categories are fine — you do not need exact balances for this app).
• Deeds for any real estate you own, and how each property is titled.
• Documents for any business interests, including operating agreements or buy-sell agreements.
• Current beneficiary designation forms for retirement accounts, life insurance, and any payable-on-death or transfer-on-death accounts.
• The first names (or roles) of people you're considering for fiduciary roles — personal representative, trustee, guardian, financial agent, health care agent — and alternates.
• A list of recent life changes (marriage, divorce, birth, death, move, new property, a child turning 18).
• Any questions you wrote down from this guide.

Review your plan when these happen

• Marriage, divorce, or a new serious relationship.
• Birth or adoption of a child.
• Death of a family member or a beneficiary.
• A move to a new state.
• Buying or selling significant property, or acquiring property in another state.
• Starting, buying, or selling a business.
• A child turning 18 (see the college-student checklist).
• A beneficiary developing new needs (benefits, creditor, or money-management concerns).
• Significant changes in the value of your assets.
• Changes in the law in your state.