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Estate planning preparation checklist
A short list of what is worth gathering and thinking about before a first conversation about a will, a trust, a power of attorney, probate or inheritance tax. Print it, tick it off, and bring it with you.
Nothing on this page is sent to us and nothing is saved. It is simply a preparation aid, so a first conversation can be spent on your circumstances rather than on gathering paperwork. Not every line will apply to you.
Documents to find
Copies are fine at this stage. Nothing needs to be sent to us.
- Any existing will, and where the original is stored
- Any existing lasting power of attorney or enduring power of attorney
- Any trust deeds you are a settlor, trustee or beneficiary of
- Title deeds or Land Registry details for property you own
- Recent statements for pensions, investments and savings
- Details of any life cover, death-in-service or income protection already in place
- Business documents: shareholders' agreement, articles, partnership agreement
- If dealing with an estate: the death certificate and any will located
People to list
- Who you would want to inherit, and in what shares
- Executors — who would deal with the estate, and a substitute
- Attorneys — who would make decisions if you could not, and a substitute
- Guardians for children under 18, and a substitute
- Trustees, if a trust is likely to be involved
- Anyone financially dependent on you who is not a direct family member
- Anyone you would deliberately want to leave out, and why
Decisions worth thinking about first
- What should happen if a beneficiary dies before you
- At what age children or grandchildren should receive anything
- Whether a previous marriage, separation or blended family affects your wishes
- Whether anyone would need help managing what they inherit
- Whether property should pass outright or be protected in some way
- Whether you own anything abroad
- Funeral wishes, and whether they are written down anywhere
Questions to ask the specialist you are introduced to
Ask for the answers in writing before you decide whether to proceed.
- What exactly is included in the work, and what is not
- The full fee, how it is charged, and what could change it
- Who will actually do the work and what their qualifications are
- How long it should take, and what is needed from you
- Where documents will be stored and what any storage costs
- What a later change or review would cost
- How to raise a concern or complaint if you need to
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