How to Prepare for Your Estate Planning Intake Meeting
A successful estate planning intake meeting depends entirely on the prep work you do before you ever sit down with an attorney. To make the most of your time and ensure your final plan accurately reflects your wishes, you need to gather a comprehensive snapshot of your financial life and thoughtfully consider who you want to entrust with key roles. Walking into the room with your paperwork organized and your goals mapped out transforms the intake meeting into an efficient, collaborative strategy session. By taking just a few critical steps beforehand, you can lay a seamless foundation for protecting your legacy and giving your family lasting peace of mind.
Before Your Session
Our goal is to make the process straightforward, comfortable, and productive. A little preparation before your meeting allows your attorney to focus on what matters most: understanding your goals, answering your questions, and providing recommendations tailored to your family and circumstances.
Complete the three steps below (four if your meeting is virtual) at least three business days prior to your intake session.
1. Complete Your Estate Planning Intake Form
Your intake form is one of the most important parts of the planning process. It provides your attorney with essential information about your family, assets, goals, and existing planning documents so we can spend more time discussing recommendations and less time gathering basic information.
Before leading up to your initial meeting, as a client, you’re going to fill out our intake form, and that’s just going to have basically all the information we need to know just from the get-go.
How Long Will It Take?
Most clients spend approximately 30 to 60 minutes completing the form, though the time may vary depending on family circumstances, business interests, and the complexity of your assets.
Helpful Information to Have Available
Before you begin, gather as much of the following information as possible:
- Names and birth dates of family members, children, and beneficiaries
- Information about real estate you own
- Bank and investment account information
- Retirement account information
- Life insurance information
- Business ownership information
- Names of professional advisors (CPA, financial advisor, insurance agent, attorney)
- Information regarding any prior estate planning documents
Don’t worry if you don’t have every answer. Completing the form as thoroughly as possible gives your attorney a strong foundation for the meeting.
“If there’s things going on in your life that you want to make sure are covered by that plan that we’re protecting and keeping safe, please feel free to bring those things up in your meeting.”
2. Make Sure All Decision-Makers Attend
If we are representing multiple parties jointly—spouses, partners, or business owners —it is important that all decision-makers attend the meeting.
Estate planning decisions involve family goals, beneficiaries, fiduciaries, asset ownership, business succession, and healthcare decisions. Having everyone present allows your attorney to answer questions, address concerns, and provide recommendations in a single conversation.
If a spouse, partner, or other necessary decision-maker cannot attend, please contact our office as soon as possible. In some situations, the meeting may need to be rescheduled to ensure everyone receives the guidance they need. We work effectively virtually, so we’re happy to send a link if you prefer.
3. Send Important Documents Before Your Appointment
Whenever possible, please send relevant documents by uploading them to your intake form (preferred) or by emailing them to attorneys@evansdavis.com before your meeting, so your attorney can review them in advance.
Helpful documents include:
- Existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and any additional previous estate planning documents prepared by another attorney
- Trust documents and amendments
- Real estate deeds
- LLC, corporation, partnership, or other business documents
- Buy-sell agreements
- Asset schedules or financial statements
- Any other documents you believe may be relevant to your planning
Providing documents in advance helps us make the most of your meeting time and allows your attorney to provide more specific recommendations.
4. Virtual Meeting Preparation
If your meeting will be conducted virtually, please take a few moments beforehand to ensure everything runs smoothly.
We recommend:
- Joining from a quiet location free from distractions
- Setting aside uninterrupted time for the full meeting
- Having documents available electronically
- Testing your internet connection, camera, microphone, and speakers before the meeting begins
- Logging in a few minutes early if possible
A distraction-free environment helps ensure we can focus on the important decisions and conversations ahead.
What to Expect During Your Session
Your meeting is a confidential conversation, protected by the attorney-client relationship, focused on your unique circumstances, goals, and concerns. Your attorney will review your situation, discuss planning options, and provide recommendations tailored to you and your family.
Be Prepared to Discuss Your Family, Assets, and Goals
Quality estate planning is about understanding what matters most to you.
During your meeting, your attorney will ask questions about:
- Your family relationships and dynamics (information about your children and loved ones – their health and financial stability)
- Your assets and financial picture
- Existing estate planning documents
- Business ownership interests
- Future concerns and priorities
- Healthcare and incapacity planning
- Long-term goals for your family and legacy
There are no “right” answers. The more openly we can discuss your circumstances and goals, the better we can tailor recommendations to your unique situation.
Next Steps and Professional Fees
At the conclusion of your session, your attorney will discuss recommended next steps and provide a quote for the legal services necessary to implement your plan.
We will review contract and payment options (ACH bank draft, check, or credit card with processing fee) during the meeting so you have a clear understanding of the process, timeline, and investment involved. We do require payment to move forward, so please consider bringing along your preferred means of payment (business owners, you may want to have a business check or business account ACH details on hand).
Our Goal
Since 2002, Evans & Davis has helped families, individuals, and business owners protect what matters most. We look forward to learning about your family, understanding your goals, and helping you create a plan that provides lifelong peace of mind.
If you have any questions before your appointment, please contact our team at (866) 708-2335.