Questions to Ask Before an Estate Planning Meeting
Before you meet with an experienced Phoenix estate planning attorney like the team at Mushkatel, Gobbato, & Kile, P.L.L.C., you may wish to consider several questions. Careful consideration of your answers to these questions can help you clarify what will likely be part of your estate and what you want to happen after you pass away. With this knowledge, you can communicate more effectively with your attorney, who can then more easily develop the estate plan that best reflects your wishes.
Once you have made an appointment to speak to your attorney, consider the following questions:
- What do you have? Consider making two lists: the assets you have and the debts you owe. Include bank accounts, land, machinery, livestock, retirement accounts, vehicles, and other assets on one side, and loans, mortgages, credit cards, and other debts on the other. For estate planning, assets are typically valuated based on “fair market” value.
- How are your assets titled? Who holds your assets and in what way will affect how they are split if you or your spouse dies. Finding out how your assets are titled can help your attorney determine if they will transfer easily to the person you want to receive them, or if a change is needed.
- Who do you want to leave your assets to? This question is particularly important to discuss if you are married. How should your assets be divided, and who should receive what?
- How do you want to pass on a family business? If you have a family business or farm, do you want it to continue as a single business or farm entity – and if so, is it sufficiently financially solvent to survive a transfer of ownership? Even if you do not know the answers, gathering financial statements and other information that could help you answer the question will also help your attorney.
About the Author
Zachary Mushkatel discovered his affinity for the law by chance. As a political science major at the University of Arizona, he first aspired to become a professor. But an unexpected invitation to participate on a mock trial team at the university encouraged him to turn his competitive spirit and drive…
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