Estate Planning Checklist

Posted On March 11, 2017

General information Yes No N/A
1. Has relevant personal information been gathered?

  • Personal details
  • Family details
  • Current advisory team
  • Goals and expectations
2. Has financial situation been assessed?

  • Assets
  • Liabilities
  • Life insurance policies
  • Other insurance coverage
  • Income
  • Expenses
3. Have current documents been reviewed?

  • Will
  • Trust documents
  • Power of attorneys
  • Medical directives
  • Insurance policies
  • Buy-sell agreements
  • Deeds, leases, mortgages, and land contracts
  • Guardian nominations
  • Separation/divorce agreements
  • Tax returns
4. Have funeral arrangements been made?
Notes:
Basics Yes No N/A
1. Is there currently a valid will?
2. If yes, does will reflect current goals and objectives?
3. Does choice of executor remain appropriate?
4. Has durable power of attorney been executed?
5. Have medical directives been executed?
6. Have beneficiary designations for retirement plans and life insurance policies been reviewed?
7. Has impact of probate been considered?
Notes:
Trusts Yes No N/A
1. Is the use of a living trust appropriate?
2. Is the use of a testamentary trust appropriate?
3. Is the use of an irrevocable life insurance trust appropriate?
4. Do existing trusts, if any, continue to meet overall objectives?
Notes:
Estate tax Yes No N/A
1. Has estate plan been reviewed due to changing tax laws?
2. Has impact of estate tax been evaluated?
3. Have options to minimize estate tax been explored?

  • Lifetime gifting
  • Full use of basic (applicable) exclusion amount and marital deduction
  • Qualified terminable interest property (QTIP) elections
  • Qualified domestic trust (QDT) for noncitizen spouse
  • Charitable giving
  • Grantor retained trusts
  • Family limited partnership (FLP)/limited liability company (LLC)
Notes:
Lifetime gifting Yes No N/A
1. Have gifts been made?
2. Has a lifetime gifting strategy been implemented?
3. Are gift tax consequences understood?
4. Has consideration been given to types of property suitable for gifting?
5. Is valuation discount planning understood?
Notes:
Charitable intentions Yes No N/A
1. Have charitable gifts or bequests been planned?
2. Is a charitable trust appropriate?

  • Charitable lead trust
  • Charitable remainder trust
  • Pooled income fund
  • Private foundation
  • Donor-advised fund
3. Is a charitable gift annuity appropriate?
4. Is the charitable gift of a remainder interest in a home or farm appropriate?
Notes:
Life insurance issues Yes No N/A
1. Have liquidity needs of estate at death been evaluated?
2. Is current life insurance coverage appropriate?
3. Have steps been taken to keep life insurance proceeds out of taxable estate?

  • Policy ownership
  • Irrevocable life insurance trust
4. Have beneficiary choices been evaluated in light of overall estate plan?
Notes:
Business interests Yes No N/A
1. Have provisions been made to transfer business interest?

  • Buy-sell agreement and necessary funding
  • Sell business
  • Transfer business with lifetime gifts
  • Key person buyout
2. Is liquidation an option?
Notes:
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About The Author

Kingdom Financial Ministries

A financial professional can apply his or her skills to your specific needs. Just as important, you have someone who can answer questions about things that you may find confusing or anxiety-provoking. When the financial markets go through one of their periodic downturns, having someone you can turn to may help you make sense of it all. Donald A. Galade is a self-starting motivated individual who believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Don is President of Galade Financial Services, Inc. a full-service insurance brokerage firm, and CEO of GFS Financial Advisors, LLC. which is a registered investment advisory (RIA) firm located in Drums, PA.