• Estate Planning Worksheet

    Please complete this worksheet to begin your estate plan. Select the "submit" button at the end of the form to send it to our office.

  • Section 1: Contact Information

  • Section 2: Estate Planning Objectives

    Please indicate your estate planning objectives. We use this checklist to ensure that we meet all of your goals.

  • Section 3: Children

    Please tell us about your children, if any.

  • Appointment of Guardian

    A Guardian is responsible for the care of minor children if the natural parents are deceased or incapacitated. A Guardian may also be appointed for a disabled adult child. Appoint at least one Guardian if you have minor children or a disabled adult child.

  • Appointment of Temporary Guardian

  •  - -
  •  - -
  •  - -
  •  - -

  • Section 4: Assets

    Select each type of asset that you own.

  • PLEASE NOTE:  In 2024, the federal estate tax (FET) exemption is $13.61 million per individual ($27.22 million for married couples). Only estates of a deceased person which are larger than the FET exemption are subject to state and federal estate tax.

    The FET exemption is adjusted annually for inflation. However, the FET exemption is scheduled to be reduced by half in 2026 (to approximately $7 million per individual and $14 million per married couple), unless Congress extends the current amounts. Less than 1% of all estates are subject to FET. Therefore, we do not provide estate tax advice or services to avoid such taxes. We would be glad to refer you to another firm for these services. 

  • Estate Planning Roadmap

  • Go to Estate Planning Roadmap

  •  

  • Document Preparation

  • Core Estate Plans

  • Plan 1:  Basic Estate Plan

    1. Last Will & Testament
    2. Funeral Directive
    3. Appointment of Guardian
    4. Power of Attorney
    5. Health Care Directive

    Plan 2:  Basic Estate Plan for Children

    1. Living Trust For Children (fund with financial assets) 
    2. Pour Over Will (to transfer probate assets to trust)
    3. Funeral Directives
    4. Appointment of Guardian
    5. Powers of Attorney 
    6. Health Care Directives

    Plan 3: Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families

    1. Last Will & Testament (for probate distribution of marital assets)
    2. Separate Trusts for Children (fund with separate financial assets)
    3. Funeral Directives
    4. Appointment of Guardian
    5. Powers of Attorney
    6. Health Care Directives

    Plan 4:  Probate Avoidance Plan

    1. Guide to Avoid Probate
    2. Ladybird Deed
    3. Assignment of Personal Property
    4. Assignment of Business Interest
    5. Last Will & Testament
    6. Funeral Directive
    7. Power of Attorney 
    8. Health Care Directive

    Plan 5:  Living Trust Plan

    1. Living Trust 
    2. Assignment of Personal Property
    3. Warranty Deed to Trust
    4. Business Beneficiary Designation Agreement
    5. Pour Over Will to Family Trust
    6. Funeral Directives
    7. Appointment of Guardian
    8. Powers of Attorney
    9. Health Care Directives

    Plan 6:  Living Trust Plan for Blended Families

    1. Living Trust (fund with marital assets)
    2. Assignment of Personal Property to Trust
    3. Warranty Deed to Trust
    4. Business Beneficiary Designation Agreement
    5. Separate Trusts for Children (fund with separate financial assets)
    6. Pour Over Wills to Family Trust
    7. Funeral Directives
    8. Appointment of Guardian
    9. Powers of Attorney
    10. Health Care Directives 

  • Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families

  • Instructions to create a Basic Estate Plan for Blended Families (Plan 3):

    1. Create a Basic Estate Plan (Plan 1) for the couple.
    2. Add an Addtional Revocable Trust (T2) for each parent who desires to create a separate trust for their own children. 

  • Living Trust Plan for Blended Families

  • Instructions to create a Living Trust Plan for Blended Families (Plan 6):

    1. Create a Living Trust Plan (Plan 5) for the couple.
    2. Add an Additional Revocable Trust (T2) for each parent who desires to create a separate trust for their own children. 

  • Additional Documents

  • Revocable Special Needs Trust

    Revocable Cottage Trust

    Revocable Life Estate Trust

    Additional Revocable Trust

    Additional Deeds (XD1-XD2)

    Pre-Nuptial Agreement

  • Revocable Trust (T1)

  • Trust Name

  • Trust Settlors

  • Revocation and Amendment

  • Trust Revocation

    Individually:  Either settlor may revoke the trust during their lifetime or after the death of either settlor.  The trust becomes irrevocable after the death of both settlors.

    Jointly:  Both settlors must agree to revoke the trust during their lifetimes. The trust becomes irrevocable upon the death of either settlor.

  • Trust Amendment

    Individually:  Either settlor may amend the trust during their lifetimes or after the death of either settlor.  The trust may not be amended after the death of both settlors.

    Jointly:  Both settlors must agree to amend the trust during their lifetimes. The trustees and beneficiaries may not be amended after the death or incapacity of either settlor, except for administrative provisions of the trust as necessary to carry out the intent of the trust. 

  • Section 5: Specific Gifts

    You may make specific gifts of cash, personal property, or real estate to one or more persons in the event of your death. If you are married, these gifts will take effect upon the death both spouses. All of the property that you do not list in this section will be distributed to the persons listed in the next section ("General Gifts").

  • Please describe the specific gifts of cash, personal property, or real estate in the box below.  We will discuss your instructions during our consultation. 

  • Pre-Residuary Gifts

  • Please Note:  Plan 4 should not be used to make specific gifts of cash, personal property, or real estate through a last will and testament.  All gifts should be made by designating beneficiaries of specific assets. 

  • Cash Gift for Care of Pets

    Designate a Caregiver and Cash Amount for Pet Care.

  • Cash Gifts

    Outright Cash Gifts.

  • Cash Gift 1

  • Cash Gift 2

  • Cash Gift 3

  • Cash Gift 4

  • Real Estate Gift

    Outright Gift of Real Property.

  • Option to Purchase Real Estate

    Option to Purchase Real Estate by Optionee at a Discounted Price.

  • Intangible Property Gifts

    Gifts of Specific Intangible Property (Stocks, Bonds, Closely-Held Business, or Other Intangible Assets).

  • Intangible Property Gift 1

  • Intangible Property Gift 2

  • Cash Gift for Higher Education

    Cash Gift to be Held in Trust for Higher Education Expenses Until the Last Trust Age.

  • Section 6: General Gifts

    Please identify the persons who will receive all of your remaining assets (other than the specific gifts above) in the event your death. If you are married, these gifts will take effect upon the death of both spouses. We will discuss this section in detail with you during our consultation.

  • First Beneficiaries

  • First Share For First Beneficiaries

  • Second Share For First Beneficiaries

  • Third Share For First Beneficiaries

  • Fourth Share For First Beneficiaries

  • Second Beneficiaries (Optional)

  • First Share for Second Beneficiaries

  • Second Share for Second Beneficiaries

  • Third Share for Second Beneficiaries

  • Fourth Share for Second Beneficiaries

  • Third Beneficiaries (Optional)

  • First Share for Third Beneficiaries

  • Second Share for Third Beneficiaries

  • Third Share for Third Beneficiaries

  • Fourth Share for Third Beneficiaries

  • Survivorship Clauses

  • Distribution Age

  • Disinherited Persons

  • Other Instructions or Questions

  • Section 7: Appointment of Trustee

    A Trustee manages and distributes trust property for your beneficiaries (if a trust is part of your estate plan). Appoint at least one Trustee. This appointment should not include you or your spouse.

  • Trust Director

    A Trust Director is a person appointed to direct a trustee how to invest money held in a trust. A Trust Director is appropriate if a trustee will need guidance with investment decisions. Appoint a Trust Director and identify the trustees who are to be directed (the "Directed Trustees").

  • Revocable Trust Funding (T1)

  • Probate Avoidance Documents

  • Tangible Personal Property

  • Retirement Accounts

  • Business Ownership

  • First Company

  • Second Company

  • Third Company

  • Real Estate

  • Add up to three parcels of property to Core Estate Plans 4, 5, or 6. For more than 3 parcels, select deeds from the "Additional Documents" section. Deed Types: (1) LBD (Warranty) is the default form; (2) LBD (Quitclaim) is appropriate for land contracts, tenancies-in-common, or other partial property interests; and (3) Warranty Deed to Trust is used for direct transfers to trust. Do not use this section to transfer property to a Cottage Trust or Life Estate Trust. 

  • Parcel 1

  • Parcel 2

  • Parcel 3

  • Section 8: Appointment of Personal Representative

    A Personal Representative (also referred to as a "executor") is nominated in a Last Will and Testament. The Personal Representative handles probate administration of an estate. Appoint at least one Personal Representative. A spouse is usually appointed first.

  • Personal Representatives for {firstName}

  • Personal Representatives for {spousepartnerFirst}

  • Section 9: Appointment of Agent Under Power of Attorney

    An Agent is appointed under a General Durable Power of Attorney to make financial decisions on your behalf if you are not able to do so. Appoint at least one Agent. A spouse is usually appointed first.

  • Agents for {firstName}

  • Agents for {spousepartnerFirst}

  • Section 10: Appointment of Patient Advocate for Health Care

    A Patient Advocate is appointed in a Health Care Directive to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. A Patient Advocate may also terminate life support if you are terminally ill. Appoint at least one Patient Advocate. A spouse is usually appointed first.

  • Patient Advocates for {firstName}

  • Patient Advocates for {spousepartnerFirst}

  • Section 11: Funeral Instructions

    You may provide instructions regarding your funeral, interment or cremation.

  • Funeral Instructions for {firstName}

  • Funeral Instructions for {spousepartnerFirst}

  • Section 12: Disclosure of Electronic Communications

    Michigan recently enacted the Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act. This statute prohibits your fiduciaries (i.e. an executor, agent or trustee appointed by you) from reading the content of your electronic communications (email, texts, posts, chats, etc.) without your consent. Please select an option below regarding the authority of a fiduciary to read your electronic communications.

  • Communications Disclosure for {firstName}

  • Communications Disclosure for {spousepartnerFirst}

  • Section 13: Marital Waiver

    A marital waiver is used to mutually release all rights to both spouse's estate upon death so that their separate estate plans will be honored by each other and their family members.

  • Drafting Notes

    Enter special instructions for drafting.

  • Document Signing

  • Attorney

  • Witnesses

  • Notary

  • End of Worksheet

  • Instructions to Submit Worksheet

    Please follow these steps to submit the worksheet to our office.
    1. Print the completed form by selecting the button below.
    2. Confirm that you are ready to submit the worksheet by checking the box below.
    3. Submit the worksheet to our office by selecting the Submit Form button below.
    4. Schedule a consultation by using our online calendar.

    Thank you!

  •  

  • Copyright © 2025 by Estate Planning Law Group.

  • Should be Empty: