Also, make sure your insurance covers key life risks. Contact life insurance companies to ensure persons who will receive your insurance death benefit are listed correctly. Keeping your insurance beneficiaries list up-to-date is equally important. Make a List of DebtsĪfter listing all your assets, don’t forget to assemble a separate list of open credit cards and other debts with the contact information of the card issuers and other creditors. Ensure you include the precise location of your physical assets and contact information for the companies holding non-physical possessions. Itemize Your Inventoryīefore you start developing a detailed plan for the distribution of your assets after your death, you should make a list of all valuable physical items, as well as non-tangible assets such as brokerage accounts,401(k) plans, and life insurance policies.

To help you settle your affairs and gain control over what happens to your assets and the future welfare of your loved ones, we have created a 10 point estate planning checklist for 2022. Even with the latest scientific developments and the availability of medicines, nobody can be sure their health will not be put at risk by the newest virus variant or some other life-threatening danger. Planning and strategizing is crucial in the wake of uncertainty that the COVID-19 pandemic brought with it. Any other documents that you deem relevant or have questions about.Updating estate planning strategies is not the most enjoyable things on Earth, but that is precisely one of the activities every responsible person should be doing around this time of year.Copies of insurance policies or annuities.Copies of deeds to any real estate you own.Your existing will(s) and trust document(s), if any.A list of any other obligations, including loans from family members, pending uninsured litigation and outstanding guarantees.A list of all lenders, terms of loans and any balances.A list of all credit cards and any debt associated with the card.A list of any other substantial assets such as valuable art work, jewelry, coins, collections of value, etc.A list of your life insurance policies or annuities, including the policy number, the type of policy, cash value and beneficiary.A list of vehicles you own, including the year, make, model, how titled, and any loan information.A list of IRAs and 401(k)s and any other Qualified Plans, including the name and address of the institution, the owner of the plan, the beneficiaries, and the current value in your account.A list of the banks (including addresses and phone numbers), types of and names on the accounts, and estimated balances.A list of the securities accounts, numbers and names on the accounts (or a list of the companies, numbers of shares or bonds) and estimated value of all such securities.Legal descriptions, addresses, title status, value and lien balances, if any, of real property you and/or your spouse own.List of you and your spouse’s income sources (pensions, dividends, interest, rental income, employment, social security, etc.).Name, address, phone number of any closely related individuals you may wish to exclude from your estate.

Name, address, phone number of the individual whom you wish to act as the guardian of your dependent children, if appropriate.

Name, address, phone number of the individual whom you wish to act as your Personal Representative (executor of your estate), including an alternate designee.

Name, address, phone number of the individual(s) whom you will name as your power of attorney to make financial and/or medical decisions in the event of your incapacity.

Charities you may wish to receive a gift from your estate.

Information about possible inheritances, if known.

Name, date of birth and address of other individuals important to your estate plan, (e.g., grandchildren, siblings, friends, parents).

Name, date of birth and address of each child, and whether: natural, step or adopted.

Same information for spouse, if applicable.

Address, phone numbers, email address, social security number, date and place of birth, citizenship, marital status, previous marriages.

Things to bring with you when you visit an attorney to plan your estate:

Estate planning checklist