Estates: 

Your Will and Lifetime Planning

Thank you for considering me to help you with your estate planning.  I know this is important to you, and I genuinely appreciate your expression of confidence. 

I’ve attached a Preliminary Estate Planning Information Form at the bottom of this page to get us started.  You can copy and print the Form for your use.  Let me know if you have any problems in that regard.

Your hand-written information is just fine.  It is very important that I have correct names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons you want to name as your beneficiaries, your Executors and your agents. 

 While the property (assets) section should be generally accurate, I just need to get a fair idea of the various types of property and their values.  You may have a financial statement.   If so, you can substitute it for the property and value list.

Call me when you finish the Preliminary Estate Planning Information Form.  Or, if you find filling it out too onerous or confusing, call me.  We will schedule a mutually convenient appointment at that time.  We won't let forms get in the way of accomplishing what you want. 

During our meeting, I will review your Preliminary Estate Planning Information Form or other information you are able to provide and your existing estate planning documents and will make recommendations to you.  

In addition to an individual’s Will, I always recommend, at minimum, a Statutory Durable Power of Attorney (and related documents), Medical Power of Attorney (and related documents), Directive to Physicians (so-called “Living Will”), and Statement of Guardianship Preferences.  I will explain these in our meeting. 

If you have pets, consider what plans should be made for them. 

Again, thank you for thinking of me.  I look forward to meeting you.  Please review this memo and the enclosures and call me if you have any questions whatsoever. 

Thank you.

Best,

 Marvin Champlin


CONFIDENTIAL JOHN & JANE CLIENT PRELIMINARY ESTATE PLANNING INFORMATION
(Please review and correct any filled in information, especially name spellings)
JOHN’S NAME INFORMATION: JANE’S NAME INFORMATION:
FIRST NAME:  ______________________________ FIRST NAME:  ______________________________
MIDDLE:  ______________________________ MIDDLE:  ______________________________
JR., SR. II, III, IV?  ______________________________         MAIDEN:  ______________________________
Name I prefer to be called:  _________________________ Name I prefer to be called:  _________________________
DATE OF BIRTH: _______________________________           DATE OF BIRTH: ___________________________________
BIRTHPLACE: ____________________________________                BIRTHPLACE: _____________________________________
HOME ADDRESS: __________________________________ HOME PHONE: _________________________
JOHN’S CELL PHONE: _________________________ JANE'S CELL PHONE: _________________________
JOHN’S WORK PHONE_________________________ JANE'S WORK PHONE: _________________________
EMAIL ADDRESS(es): _________________________
DATE JOHN & JANE WERE MARRIED AND WHERE: ______________________________________________________
PRIOR MARRIAGES OF JOHN (FULL NAMES OF FORMER SPOUSES, DATE DIVORCED OR DECEASED):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PRIOR MARRIAGES OF JANE (FULL NAMES OF FORMER SPOUSES, DATE DIVORCED OR DECEASED):________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 


CHILDREN BORN TO OR ADOPTED BY JOHN AND JANE DURING THEIR MARRIAGE (FULL NAMES): 
(1)_____________________________________________________________________________________     DOB:    _______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(2)_____________________________________________________________________________________     DOB:    _______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CHILDREN BORN TO OR ADOPTED BY JOHN DURING PRIOR MARRIAGES (FULL NAMES, WHETHER BORN OR ADOPTED AND NAME OF OTHER PARENT)
(1)_____________________________________________________________________________________      DOB:    _______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(2)_____________________________________________________________________________________      DOB:    ______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CHILDREN BORN TO OR ADOPTED BY JANE DURING PRIOR MARRIAGES (FULL NAMES, WHETHER BORN OR ADOPTED AND NAME OF OTHER PARENT) 
(1)_____________________________________________________________________________________      DOB:    _______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(2)_____________________________________________________________________________________      DOB:    _______________                                              Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________
FULL NAMES AND AGES OF THIS CHILD’S CHILDREN (GRANDCHILDREN)
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 ASSET INFORMATION VALUE ESTIMATE       COMMENTS (COMPANY, BENEFICIARY, ETC.)(GENERAL DESCRIPTION OK, BUT SUFFICIENT TO IDENTIFY PROPERTY)  (DOLLAR VALUES ARE ESTIMATES, BUT DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE.)(SPECIFICALLY STATE IF ANY IDENTIFIED PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN ANOTHER STATE) (Separate Property = Any property you now have that was acquired by you before your current marriage to each other or acquired by you by gift,Will or inheritance during your current marriage to each other)  (Community Property = Assume all other property you now have) 
SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNED BY JOHN
Life Insurance on John ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
Life Insurance on Jane  ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
IRAs, 401(k)'s, Profit Sharing, etc. ____________      __________________________________________________________

References ____________      __________________________________________________________

Other Real Estate ____________      __________________________________________________________

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cash, CD's Savings, Checking            ____________      __________________________________________________________

Notes Where People Owe You Money   ____________     __________________________________________________________

Business Interests               ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cars, Jewelry, Furniture, etc.               ____________      __________________________________________________________

SEPARATE PROPERTY OWNED BY JANE
Life Insurance on John ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
Life Insurance on Jane  ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
IRAs, 401(k)'s, Profit Sharing, etc. ____________      __________________________________________________________

Residences ____________      __________________________________________________________

Other Real Estate ____________      __________________________________________________________

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cash, CD's Savings, Checking            ____________      __________________________________________________________

Notes Where People Owe You Money   ____________     __________________________________________________________

Business Interests               ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cars, Jewelry, Furniture, etc.               ____________      __________________________________________________________

COMMUNITY PROPERTY OWNED BY JOHN & JANE
Life Insurance on John ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
Life Insurance on Jane  ____________     _________________________________________________________(State Amount, Owner, Beneficiary)
IRAs, 401(k)'s, Profit Sharing, etc. ____________      __________________________________________________________

Residences ____________      __________________________________________________________

Other Real Estate ____________      __________________________________________________________

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cash, CD's Savings, Checking            ____________      __________________________________________________________

Notes Where People Owe You Money   ____________     __________________________________________________________

Business Interests               ____________      __________________________________________________________

Cars, Jewelry, Furniture, etc.               ____________      __________________________________________________________








Please provide me with copies of your existing Wills, Trust Agreement(s), Powers of Attorney, and Medical Powers/Living Wills, etc.
JOHN: STATE HOW YOU WANT YOUR SEPARATE PROPERTY AND YOUR ONE-HALF OF COMMUNITY PROPERTY DIVIDED ON YOUR DEATH.  NAME WHO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT IF THEY SURVIVE YOU AND THE NEXT PERSONS TO RECEIVE IT IF THEY DON’T SURVIVE YOU.  (It is not necessary to state your wishes with regard to specific items of jewelry, personal effects and the like, unless you want to.  Texas allows a written memorandum, separate from the Will, concerning such things.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________










JANE: STATE HOW YOU WANT YOUR SEPARATE PROPERTY AND YOUR ONE-HALF OF COMMUNITY PROPERTY DIVIDED ON YOUR DEATH.  NAME WHO YOU WANT TO RECEIVE IT IF THEY SURVIVE YOU AND THE NEXT PERSONS TO RECEIVE IT IF THEY DON’T SURVIVE YOU.  (It is not necessary to state your wishes with regard to specific items of jewelry, personal effects and the like, unless you want to.  Texas allows a written memorandum, separate from the Will, concerning such things.) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________










 WHOM DO YOU WANT TO NAME AS THE EXECUTOR OF YOUR ESTATE?(Spouses normally name each other first, then at least one alternate.)
                                         John                                                                                           Jane
1.  _________________________________________ 1.______________________________________
2.  _________________________________________    2.______________________________________
3.  _________________________________________    3.______________________________________
WHOM DO YOU WANT TO NAME AS AGENT ON YOUR GENERAL FINANCIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY?(Spouses normally name each other first, then at least one alternate.  This power of attorney gives the person or persons you name the power to sign your name if you are not able to do so.  For instance, it can be used to sign a deed or a tax return, or to make gifts of your property.)
                                            John                                                                                                       Jane
1.  _____________________________________________    1._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                     ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
2.  _____________________________________________    2._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                      ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
3.  _____________________________________________    3._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                       ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
WHOM DO YOU WANT TO NAME AS AGENT ON YOUR MEDICAL POWER OF ATTORNEY?(Spouses normally name each other first, then at least one alternate.  This power of attorney gives the person or persons you name the power to make medical treatment decisions for you if you are not able to do so.)
                                            John                                                                                                       Jane
1.  _____________________________________________    1._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                     ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
2.  _____________________________________________    2._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                      ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
3.  _____________________________________________    3._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                       ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
WHOM DO YOU WANT TO NAME AS GUARDIAN OF YOUR PERSON IF A GUARDIAN EVER NEEDS TO BE APPOINTED?  (Spouses normally name each other first, then at least one alternate.)
                                            John                                                                                                       Jane
1.  _____________________________________________    1._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                     ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
2.  _____________________________________________    2._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                      ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
3.  _____________________________________________    3._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                       ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
WHOM DO YOU WANT TO NAME AS GUARDIAN OF YOUR ESTATE IF A GUARDIAN EVER NEEDS TO BE APPOINTED?  (Spouses normally name each other first, then at least one alternate.  Usually the same as the person or persons to serve as guardian of your person, but not required to be the same.)
                                            John                                                                                                       Jane
1.  _____________________________________________    1._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                     ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
2.  _____________________________________________    2._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                      ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
3.  _____________________________________________    3._____________________________________________     Address: _____________________________________          Address: ______________________________________                   _____________________________________                       ______________________________________     Phone:    _____________________________________     Phone:    ______________________________________
Where do you plan to keep your original signed Wills and these Related Documents?
 _________________________________________


_________________________________________   Date:  ____________________, 20_____John Client


_________________________________________   Date:  ____________________, 20_____Jane Client