✅ Estate Planning Final Checklist

You Learned It — Now Let's Make Sure You Actually DO It

You've made it through the estate-planning section.

Now it's time to put everything together.

Estate planning isn't complete simply because you understand what a Will, Power of Attorney or beneficiary is.

The goal is to actually get your affairs organized.

Use this checklist to determine:

🟢 What I've completed

🟡 What I'm still working on

🔴 What I need professional help with

Don't feel like everything has to be completed in one day.

Start checking things off.

📜 1. MY WILL

☐ I have a current Will.

☐ I reviewed who receives my property.

☐ I named an Executor.

☐ I named a backup Executor.

☐ I reviewed guardian choices if applicable.

☐ My Will was properly signed according to Texas requirements.

☐ I reviewed whether my Will is self-proved.

☐ I know where my ORIGINAL signed Will is located.

☐ My Executor or trusted person knows where to find it.

☐ My Will still reflects my current wishes.

My Will is located:

My Executor is:

Backup Executor:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

🏠 2. MY HOME & REAL ESTATE

For every property I own:

☐ I reviewed the deed.

☐ I know exactly whose name is on the property.

☐ I know whether the property is community or separate property if that distinction applies.

☐ I understand what I currently expect to happen to the property when I die.

☐ I reviewed whether a Transfer on Death Deed may be appropriate.

☐ I reviewed any existing Transfer on Death Deed.

☐ I reviewed any survivorship agreement.

☐ I reviewed any Lady Bird/Enhanced Life Estate Deed.

☐ I checked for conflicting estate-planning documents.

IMPORTANT:

If you use a Transfer on Death Deed, remember that simply completing the form isn't enough.

It must satisfy Texas requirements and be properly recorded before the owner's death in the deed records of the county where the property is located.

My property documents are located:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

🏦 3. BANK ACCOUNTS

I reviewed my:

☐ Checking Accounts

☐ Savings Accounts

☐ CDs

☐ Money Market Accounts

☐ Credit Union Accounts

☐ Online Bank Accounts

For each applicable account:

☐ I know who owns the account.

☐ I checked whether a POD beneficiary is listed.

☐ I verified the current beneficiary.

☐ I checked whether a joint account has survivorship rights.

☐ I updated outdated beneficiaries.

☐ I know where my account information is stored.

I did NOT put complete account numbers, PINs or banking passwords on an unsecured worksheet.

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED HELP

📈 4. RETIREMENT & INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS

I reviewed:

☐ 401(k)

☐ 403(b)

☐ Pension

☐ Traditional IRA

☐ Roth IRA

☐ Brokerage Accounts

☐ Stocks

☐ Bonds

☐ Other Investment Accounts

For each applicable account:

☐ I verified my PRIMARY beneficiary.

☐ I verified my CONTINGENT beneficiary.

☐ I removed outdated beneficiaries where appropriate.

☐ I reviewed spouse-consent requirements where applicable.

☐ I know where account information is located.

☐ I understand that my Will may not override beneficiary designations on these accounts.

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

🛡️ 5. LIFE INSURANCE

☐ I located every life-insurance policy.

☐ I checked employer-provided coverage.

☐ I checked personal policies.

☐ I verified my primary beneficiary.

☐ I verified my contingent beneficiary.

☐ My beneficiaries are still appropriate.

☐ Someone knows where my policy information is located.

Insurance information is located:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED HELP

⚠️ STOP — DO MY DOCUMENTS CONFLICT?

This is worth checking separately.

Don't assume your Will controls everything.

Review whether the names on your:

📜 Will

🏦 Bank beneficiaries

📈 Retirement accounts

🛡️ Life insurance

🏠 Transfer on Death Deed

💰 Investment accounts

🚗 Beneficiary-designated property

and other transfer-on-death arrangements

actually agree with your current wishes.

Example:

Your Will might say:

“I leave everything to my daughter.”

But an old life-insurance policy might still name someone else.

That beneficiary designation may control that particular asset.

CHECK THE ACTUAL BENEFICIARY FORMS.

☐ I checked for conflicts.

☐ Everything reflects my current wishes.

☐ I found something that needs to be updated.

✍🏽 6. DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY

If I'm alive but unable to handle my financial affairs:

☐ I have considered/completed a Durable Power of Attorney.

☐ I chose someone I trust.

☐ I named a successor agent if appropriate.

☐ My agent knows I've selected them.

☐ I understand when my agent's authority begins.

☐ I reviewed the powers I'm granting.

☐ The document was properly executed.

☐ My financial institutions know what documentation they may require.

☐ My agent knows where the document is located.

My Agent:

Successor Agent:

Document Location:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

🏥 7. MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY

If I can't make my own healthcare decisions:

☐ I selected my healthcare agent.

☐ I selected alternate agents.

☐ I talked to my agent.

☐ My agent understands my wishes.

☐ I completed the appropriate Texas document.

☐ It was properly executed.

☐ My healthcare provider has a copy where appropriate.

☐ My agent has access to a copy.

My Medical Agent:

Alternate:

Document Location:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED HELP

❤️ 8. ADVANCE DIRECTIVE / LIVING WILL

☐ I reviewed the Texas Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates.

☐ I thought about my end-of-life healthcare wishes.

☐ I discussed my wishes with someone I trust.

☐ I completed the document if appropriate for me.

☐ I followed the current signing requirements.

☐ My healthcare agent knows my wishes.

☐ My doctor/provider has access to the document where appropriate.

Document Location:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED HELP

👨👩👧 9. GUARDIANSHIP PLANNING

If applicable:

☐ I chose a preferred guardian for my minor child.

☐ I chose backup guardians.

☐ I discussed this with the people I've selected.

☐ My Will addresses guardianship where appropriate.

☐ I reviewed the Texas Declaration of Guardian.

☐ I considered whom I would want as my OWN guardian if I ever needed one.

☐ I considered whether I need to formally disqualify someone.

☐ I thought separately about who would manage money inherited by a minor.

My First Guardian Choice:

Backup:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

🏢 10. MY BUSINESS

If I own a business:

☐ My family knows the legal business name.

☐ They understand which DBAs belong to which legal entity.

☐ My formation documents are organized.

☐ My Company Agreement is located.

☐ I reviewed what happens after my death/incapacity.

☐ Business bank information is organized.

☐ Payment processors are identified.

☐ Websites/domains are documented.

☐ Inventory locations are documented.

☐ Current customer obligations can be identified.

☐ Recurring business bills are documented.

☐ Tax information is organized.

☐ Insurance policies are organized.

☐ I selected a business emergency contact.

☐ I have a secure plan for digital access.

☐ I have thought about whether the business should continue, transfer, sell or close.

Business Emergency Contact:

Business Records Located:

STATUS:

☐ 🟢 COMPLETE

☐ 🟡 WORKING ON IT

☐ 🔴 NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP

⚰️ 11. FINAL WISHES

☐ My family knows whether I prefer burial or cremation.

☐ I identified my preferred funeral home if applicable.

☐ Cemetery information is organized.

☐ Prepaid funeral information is organized.

☐ Life-insurance information is accessible.

☐ I documented service/memorial preferences.

☐ I selected photographs if desired.

☐ I created a list of people who should be notified.

☐ I documented organ/tissue donation wishes where appropriate.

☐ I considered an Appointment for Disposition of Remains.

☐ The person I want handling arrangements knows my wishes.

Final-arrangement information is located:

📰 12. OBITUARY INFORMATION

☐ My basic obituary information is documented.

☐ Names are spelled correctly.

☐ Important family relationships are accurate.

☐ My family knows not to guess about disputed family relationships.

☐ I understand an obituary itself does not legally determine heirship.

☐ If heirship is questionable, my family knows to seek appropriate legal guidance rather than attempting to settle the issue through obituary wording.

☐ I selected a preferred photograph if desired.

Obituary information/photo is located:

📂 13. IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS

I know where to find:

☐ Birth Certificate

☐ Marriage Certificate

☐ Divorce Documents

☐ Social Security Information

☐ Military Records

☐ Passport

☐ Property Deeds

☐ Vehicle Titles

☐ Insurance Policies

☐ Will

☐ Durable Power of Attorney

☐ Medical Power of Attorney

☐ Advance Directive

☐ Guardianship Documents

☐ Property Transfer Documents

☐ Business Documents

☐ Tax Records

☐ Funeral/Cemetery Documents

My important documents are located:

🔐 14. DIGITAL LIFE

I created an inventory of important:

☐ Email Accounts

☐ Phone/Computer Access

☐ Cloud Storage

☐ Social Media

☐ Websites

☐ Domains

☐ Online Stores

☐ Financial Platforms

☐ Payment Processors

☐ Digital Photos

☐ Business Software

I did NOT put all my passwords into an unsecured estate-planning worksheet.

Instead:

☐ I use an appropriate secure password/access method.

☐ My trusted person knows how to locate the appropriate instructions if needed.

Secure instructions are located:

🐾 15. MY PETS

Don't forget them.

☐ I identified who could care for my pets.

☐ I discussed it with that person.

☐ Veterinary information is available.

☐ Medication information is available.

☐ Feeding/care instructions are available.

☐ I considered how pet-care expenses would be handled.

Pet Care Person:

Pet Information Located:

👥 16. WHO NEEDS TO KNOW?

Estate planning isn't very helpful if every document is hidden and nobody knows where anything is.

The following trusted person knows where my important records are:

Name:

Relationship:

Phone:

They know where to find:

☐ Will

☐ Powers of Attorney

☐ Medical Directives

☐ Property Documents

☐ Insurance

☐ Financial Information

☐ Business Information

☐ Funeral Instructions

☐ Important Contacts

🚨 BUT DON'T GIVE EVERYONE EVERYTHING

There's a difference between:

ACCESS

and

UNNECESSARY EXPOSURE.

Your family doesn't need copies of every account number and password sitting in an unlocked drawer.

Use appropriate security.

Your trusted person primarily needs to know:

WHAT EXISTS.

WHERE IT IS.

HOW TO GET APPROPRIATE ACCESS WHEN NECESSARY.

👨⚖️ 17. WHAT DO I NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP WITH?

Write it down.

Attorney:

☐ Will

☐ Trust

☐ Real Estate

☐ Business Succession

☐ Guardianship

☐ Special-Needs Planning

☐ Blended-Family Planning

☐ Probate Questions

☐ Other: __________________________

Tax Professional/CPA:

☐ Business Taxes

☐ Estate/Inheritance Tax Questions

☐ Retirement Tax Questions

☐ Other: __________________________

Financial/Insurance Professional:

☐ Beneficiary Planning

☐ Life Insurance

☐ Retirement

☐ Investments

☐ Other: __________________________

Questions I still need answered:

📅 18. SET AN ANNUAL ESTATE-PLANNING CHECKUP

Estate planning isn't:

DO IT ONCE AND NEVER LOOK AT IT AGAIN.

Life changes.

Review your plan periodically and especially after major changes such as:

💍 Marriage

💔 Divorce

👶 Birth/Adoption

⚰️ Death

🏠 Buying/Selling Property

🏢 Starting/Selling a Business

💰 Major Financial Changes

👥 Family Relationship Changes

📈 Retirement

🏦 Changing Banks

🛡️ New Insurance

📜 Changes in Your Wishes

👤 Death/Incapacity of an Executor, Agent, Guardian or Beneficiary