Probate Meeting #1

After you have signed the attorney-client contract, it is time for us to meet for the first time.  Prior to our meeting, please securely upload the following to your Clio account. Not all of these documents will apply to your case. If the request does not apply, simply ignore the request.

If you are unable to scan these documents and upload them, please let me know. 

Please upload the following documents prior to our initial meeting - request documents:
1. Originals of all wills and codicils (if estate plan not prepared by our office).
2. Originals of all trusts and amendments established by decedent (if estate plan not prepared by our office).
3. Most recent bank statements for accounts on which decedent's name appears as either sole or co-owner in any capacity and copy of signature card for each account. Copies of monthly statements.
4. All passbooks and savings certificates on which decedent's name appears.
5. Most recent statements for all mutual fund and stock brokerage accounts. Copies of monthly statements.
6. Certified copies of death certificate if available (no less than 5 copies).
In addition, the following information and documents will also be needed, but need not be brought to the initial meeting unless readily available:
1. All IRA and qualified pension benefit documents, including beneficiary designation forms and plan descriptions.
2. Certificates of title ("pink slips") for all automobiles, recreational vehicles, boats, trailers, motorcycles, and airplanes in which decedent had any ownership interest.
3. All life insurance policies and annuity contracts, including beneficiary designation forms.
4. All deeds to real property in which decedent had any interest and copies of any notes or deeds of trust to which such properties are subject.  If you do not have a copy of the deed, please supply me with the address. 
5. All leases for all real property on which decedent was either the landlord or tenant.
6. Most recent personal income tax return.
7. Copies of all gift, estate, and/or generation-skipping transfer tax returns ever filed by decedent or decedent's spouse at any time in the past.
8. Most recent financial statements and tax returns for any partnership or other closely held business.
9. Copies of any partnership agreements, buy-sell agreements, and corporate records for any partnership or closely held corporation.
10. A list of tangible personal property items that, individually or as a group or collection, have a fair market value in excess of $3000 (e.g., jewelry, art, antiques, or coin, stamp, book, gun, or wine collections).
11. Copies of all bills for expenses of last illness, such as hospital and doctor bills, and an itemized list of all funeral and related expenses.
12. A list of any known debts, liabilities, pending lawsuits, or other claims of or against decedent.
13. Copies of any trust of which decedent was a trustee or beneficiary at the time of death.
14. A list of all safe deposit boxes on which decedent's name appears, by bank and branch, and an inventory of the contents of each.
15. All deeds of trust, notes, or accounts receivable representing payments owed to decedent.  
16. All stock certificates, bonds, or other securities.
17. Any other documents that you believe may be important to our understanding of decedent's personal and financial affairs.
If you have any questions or if any of this information or documentation is not available by the time set for your appointment, we can discuss this at the time of the appointment. Time is of the essence in these matters, and we would prefer not to delay just because a particular document is not available.