- Do you have a current Testament or Will?
- If you have minor children, do you have a current Testament that names a Tutor who will have legal authority over your children until they reach age 18? (In Louisiana, we call the person appointed to take care of a minor a “Tutor.” Other states use other terms like “Guardian.”)
- If the total gross value of all your assets is over $100,000 do you have any kind of planning documents to carry out your Estate Plan? Planning documents may include a Testament, a revocable or irrevocableTrust, a limited liability company (LLC), a family limited partnership or any combination of these types of devices.
- If you have a Revocable or Living Trust, have you transferred your assets into it?
- In case you become disabled, have you designated someone to handle your financial affairs?
- Do you have a current Health Care Power of Attorney that provides the names, addresses and telephone numbers of your designated agents to handle your medical care if you’re disabled?
- Do you have provisions in your Testament or Trust that address the issue of death taxes if you end up having an estate large enough to trigger such taxes?
- If you want to make gifts to charities at your death, are they clearly set forth in your planning documents?
- Do your planning documents clearly set forth how your personal property will be distributed at your death, including the care of any surviving pets?
- Since you signed your planning documents, have you changed your mind about any aspect of the plan?
- Has the value of your assets substantially changed since you signed your planning documents?
- Have you substantially changed the kind of assets you own since your planning documents were signed?
- Have you recently been married, divorced or widowed since your estate planning documents were signed?
- Have you had children since your estate planning documents were signed?
- Have your children had children?
- Have any of your children been married, divorced or died since your planning documents were signed?
- Have you, your spouse or child become physically or mentally incapacitated since your planning documents were signed?
- Have you bought or sold a house or other piece of property since your planning documents were signed?
- Are you contemplating selling stock or other valuable assets with a low cost basis?
- Have you moved between states since your planning documents were signed?
- If you have a Revocable or Living Trust, are Medicaid triggers in place to ensure that at the appropriate time Medicaid planning can be implemented?
- Do you have plans for dealing with your digital assets?
Feel free to make an appointment with our firm to review your estate plan.
