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Trust Documents — Information Only

Learn Your Money does not create legal documents. This page is an educational organizer to help families understand topics, gather information, and prepare better questions for a licensed estate attorney.

What this page is, and what it is not

This page does not produce a will, a trust, a power of attorney, a healthcare directive, a HIPAA authorization, or any other legal document. It does not offer document templates or downloads. It is an educational organizer only.

This is not legal advice and creates no attorney-client relationship. Estate law varies by state — consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Prepare for an attorney conversation

Prompts to think about and information to gather before meeting with a licensed estate-planning attorney. These are not recommendations, instructions, or strategy.

People to identify

  • Who you would want to manage finances on your behalf if you could not.
  • Who you would want to make medical decisions on your behalf if you could not.
  • Who you would want to look after minor children if both parents were unavailable.
  • Who you would want as a backup for each of the above.

Information to gather

  • A simple list of accounts (banks, brokerages, retirement accounts) — institution names only.
  • A simple list of properties and vehicles you own.
  • A list of life-insurance policies and the current named beneficiaries.
  • A list of retirement-account beneficiaries currently on file.
  • Names and contact information for the people listed above.

Questions to ask the attorney

  • Which documents do most families in our situation typically discuss with you, and why?
  • How does your state's law affect what we should think about?
  • How are fees usually structured for an initial consultation, and what is a typical range?
  • If a family member has or may have a disability, who do you refer those conversations to?
  • How often should we review these conversations once they are in place?

Topics you may want to discuss

  • Whether a will alone is enough for your situation, or whether other arrangements come up in conversation.
  • How accounts and property are currently titled, and whether that matches your intentions.
  • How beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and insurance interact with the rest of your plan.
  • If a family member has or may have a disability, what conversations should happen with a Special Needs Alliance attorney specifically.
  • How your state's estate, gift, and inheritance laws may affect the conversation.

How to find a licensed estate attorney

Reputable starting points. Learn Your Money has no affiliation with these organizations and does not receive any referral compensation.