Are you ready to set up your first meeting with a Pasadena estate planning lawyer? An estate planning attorney in California can help guide you through the process of determining which documents and strategies you need to protect your interests. The more prepared you are for this meeting, the more you will get out of it, and the more organized you will be in terms of giving the attorney the full picture of your overall financial situation and goals.Â
There are several pieces of information that you should pull together before you speak with a lawyer. This includes:
- the deed to your home and any other real property holdings
- recent investment and bank account statements
- the value of any real estate you own
- postnuptial, prenuptial, or divorce agreements
- business agreements
- copies of retirement account statements and retirement plans
- copies of your life insurance policy
- a list of liabilities, including credit lines, mortgages and any other form of debt
- any previous estate planning documents
By having all of this information organized, you can get a better understanding of the assets inside your estate so an attorney can walk you through the various options available to you, including creating a will, important incapacity-related documents, and more complex strategies such as establishing a trust.Â
Ultimately, what you end up choosing will depend on your individual goals and the complexity of your estate. A lawyer can answer important questions related to the process, so come prepared with a list of any questions you have about what it looks like to complete your estate plan.
