A Family Member Died, Now What? Preparing for the Initial Meeting with the Attorney

In our recent post “A Family Member Died, Now What? How to Begin Winding up a Relative’s Legal Affairs,” we outlined several actions to take to start winding up a deceased relative’s legal affairs, including gathering your relative’s estate-planning documents and taking a preliminary accounting of your relative’s property.

Below is a general checklist of information and documents which will be helpful for you to assemble in preparation for meeting with your attorney. It is not necessary to have the checklist completed prior to the initial meeting. However, for reference, you may want to print this post, fill it out, and bring it with you to the initial meeting.

1. Decedent’s Background Information (may attach a death certificate in lieu of this section):
   • Full Name:
     ______________________________________________
   • Residence Address:
     ______________________________________________
   • Date of Birth:
     ______________________________________________
   • Social Security Number:
     ______________________________________________
   • Marital Status:
     ______________________________________________
   • Spouse’s Name:
     ______________________________________________
2. Relative’s Financial and Medical Affairs:
   • Employment Status:
     ______________________________________________
   • Employer’s Name:
     ______________________________________________
   • Banks / Institutions / Brokerages (including accounts held,
     e.g. savings):
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
   • Safe Deposit Box Location:
     ______________________________________________
   • Pension (if so, from where):
     ______________________________________________
   • Life Insurance Policies (provider(s) and amounts):
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
   • Vehicles and VINs:
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
   • Known Creditors (mortgage, credit card, etc.):
     ______________________________________________
   • Receiving Medicaid Benefits?
     ______________________________________________
   • Receiving Social Security Benefits?
     ______________________________________________
   • Important Notes / Special Circumstances to Tell Attorney:
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
     ______________________________________________
3. Documents to Assemble (If you don’t have access to an account,
   just indicate that below):

_____     Certified death certificate
_____     Copy of death certificate of spouse, if widowed

_____     Original last will and testament and any codicils (amendments to the will)
_____     Copy of trust and any amendments

_____     Copy of all bank statements from accounts titled in relative’s name from month of relative’s death
_____     Copy of all brokerage statements from accounts titled in relative’s name from month of relative’s death
_____     Copy of all bank statements in the name of the trust for the month of death
_____     Copy of all brokerage statements in the name of the trust for the month of death
_____     Copy of all retirement account statements in the name of the relative for the month of death
_____     Original life insurance policies
_____     Death certificates for any predeceased owners or beneficiaries of insurance policies or co-owners of financial accounts

_____     Original vehicle titles (including boats, motors, and trailers) in the name of the relative and trust
_____     Copy of titles for any real property in the name of the relative or the trust
_____     List of extraordinary personal property (paintings, expensive jewelry, etc.)
_____     Original savings bonds
_____     Information on safe deposit box

_____     Information regarding any creditors of the relative (accounts, balances)
_____     Information regarding any Medicaid benefits the relative received
_____     Information regarding the relative’s beneficiaries/heirs (addresses, dates of birth and social security numbers)
_____     Information on any long term care policies
_____     Copy of funeral bill