Checklists

Estate Planning Checklist

These may be obvious, but you will forget things more easily.

Guide prepared by Jan Conklin to assist loved ones

1.  Write everything down as you will be distracted and not thinking clearly.  Make lists in a single place.

2.  Whenever speaking with someone, get their name, phone number, email and write it down.

3.  Contact mortuary for funeral arrangements - discuss what they provide, do they notify social security.

   When ordering death certificates, it's generally cheaper to order on the first request than to order later.

4.  When contacting financial institutions find out if they need a copy or an original death certificate.

5.  When contacting financial institutions find out if the account must be closed or simply re-titled.

6.  Make a list of all financial institutions and the balance as of DOD - assets held outside of IRA's and

   cash (checking, savings, CD's) must be updated to the FMV (fair market value) as of DOD - double

   check to see that this occurs - may take 1 - 3 months for them to update the accounts.  This generally

   applies to Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, etc.

7.  Nofify Banks, Credit Unions and Savings & Loans - ask if there is any life insurance policy

8.  Notify Credit Cards - ask if there is any life insurance policy.

9.  Notify IRA, and SEPaccounts - if withdrawals have started you must continue with them and

   change the amount of withholding to Single Status or a larger percentage, change beneficiary and

   contingent IRA's can be rolled into yours or kept as a "Beneficiary IRA."

10.  Notify any brokerage firms and be sure that the investments are updated to FMV as of DOD.

11.  Obtain a comparison of the FMV of your home as of DOD - keep the copies as this will be the new

   value should you decide to sell.  A married person has up to 2 years to sell their home and still take

   advantage of the exclusions for married persons after the death of one of the spouses.

12.  Contact your mortgage company and see if there is any mortgage protection insurance.

13.  Contact DMV and notify them of death; cancel driver's; retitle vehicle that is in decedents name.

14.  Contact Voter registration to notify them of death.

15.  Cancel any subscriptions that you no longer wish to receive - ask for a credit or cash back.

16.  Cancel cell phone - you may want to wait 1 -2 months on this, record any Contact info you want to keep

17.  Update your will and/or joint living trusts, IRAs, SEPs, 401(k) and add contingent beneficiaries.

18.  Social security will adjust the final amounts and should pay a $275 death benefit.

19.  Notify Life Insurance for death benefits.

20.  Write an obituary - this can sometimes be coordinated with the mortuary but not always.

   Include any donation to a specific charity of charity of choice to honor deceased.

21.  Contact AAA and change membership.

22.  Contact AARP - it's possible that if you're a member there is a benefit of some sort.

23.  Notify auto insurance.

24.  Notify pensions - CAL PERS - change withholding and medical insurance.

25.  Notify Dental and Vision Insurance - County/Employer or with the pension.

26.  Notify Deferred Comp - change your beneficiary and contingent, adjust withholding.

27.  Notify Utilities and change any that were solely in the name of the deceased - if they ask for a

   new deposit ask for a waiver since you've been paying promptly all these years.

28.  Notify Homeowner's Policy and Umbrella Policy.

29.  Notify Homeowner's Association, if applicable.

30.  Notify Appliance Repair Insurance Policy, if applicable.

31.  Cancel Facebook or any social network after 1 - 3 months.

32.  Be sure you have passwords to websites of the decedent - financial and otherwise.

33.  Change emergency contact information with doctors, dentists, etc.

34.  Change person who may have access to your medical information.

35.  Speak with an attorney/CPA to decide about re-titling the house, living trust, probate, etc.

      Make a list of all the questions you may have so you're prepared.

36.  Keep a relative or trusted friend informed of steps you are taking so they are familiar with your situation.

37.  Cash in Savings bonds held in decedent's name or held jointly - it's much more difficult to cash these in

   once both parties have died.  You may be able to do this at a bank or apply with treasury department.

38.  Cancel any memberships - Weight Watchers, Gym, etc.

39.  Notify companies of any payments that are made automatically either out of checking or by credit card.

40.  Do not make any major financial decisions - selling home, changing title on home for at least 6 months

41.  Locate marriage license, birth certificate, divorce papers and social security card of decedent - do not

   destroy these.

42.  If any assets are held in a Joint Living trust you will need to decide what assets will remain in that

      trust and what assets should be in the Decedent's Trust (aka Credit B Trust) and transfer assets

      accordingly.  This may require obtaining a taxpayer ID for the new trust and filing tax returns for that

      trust on an annual basis.  Consult with an attorney or financial person to determine what is best.