Planning an estate can sometimes get overwhelming. In fact, that’s the reason a lot of people don’t do it. They think they need to prepare too much, retrieve voluminous paperwork, accomplish a bunch of forms, etc. Many have the tendency to put off the work involved in estate planning, some until they run out of time.

While estate planning sounds difficult, it becomes more bearable with the help of an estate planning attorney. A lawyer can handle most of the technicalities, only requiring a few documents to get started — which is not as much as most people think.

What to Expect in a Meeting with an Estate Lawyer About Your Revocable Trust

An initial meeting with an estate lawyer to create a revocable trust does not include a sheer amount of technicalities. Often, estate planning will begin with a simple questionnaire, which asks details about:

  • Personal information

  • Important people in a person’s life, i.e. family and friends

  • Key decision-makers

  • Assets

Most lawyers will only require the information in the questionnaire to begin with the estate planning process. At this point, income tax statements, deeds, titles, bank statements, etc. are not yet necessary. If the attorney needs more information on them. They will follow up to retrieve the documents they need.

Key Questions Estate Lawyers Will Ask 

While an estate planning attorney will not require a bunch of paperwork to create a revocable trust, they may ask for additional information. Being aware of the questions the lawyer may ask will help individuals be more prepared for their meeting. Some key questions include:

  • What kind of money do you have?

  • Do you have IRA accounts?

  • Do you have life insurance?

  • Do you have bank accounts?

  • Financial accounts net worth

  • Details about real estate, addresses, titles, etc.

Although these questions can be quickly answered by presenting documents, it’s not something that people should worry about. These questions are meant to help an estate lawyer uncover any tax issues or probate issues, so they don’t necessarily need the specifics and will be content with general answers.

It’s worth remembering, though, that every estate attorney is different and may handle initial meetings in their own unique ways. But when it comes to preparation, individuals do not need to prepare all their financial documents and paperwork. The questionnaire is the most important first step to creating a revocable trust.