Once you have an appointment with us, your next step is to collect the documentation you will need for your appointment. This page provides a comprehensive answer to the question: What should I bring to my probate or trust meeting?

Do your best, but don’t let this information gathering be a hindrance to moving forward. Gather as much of this information as you can beforehand, and we can finish compiling the information with you later if we need to.

Information about the deceased person:
  • Full name, including any aliases or aka (alternate names or spellings that may have been used at any time during the decedent’s life)
  • Citizenship
  • Social Security number
  • Date of death
  • Place of death (city and state)
  • Decedent’s address at time of death
The full name, citizenship, and residence address (or date and place of death) for the following people:
  • All the beneficiaries named in the will
  • A list of all children, grandchildren, parents, and siblings.  (In some cases, we will  need to ask for information about other relatives, too.
  • A spouse or registered domestic partner
  • Anyone else who is named in the will
We will need the following information for the proposed Executor (also called the Personal Representative or Administrator):
  • Name, including any alias or aka
  • Citizenship
  • Address (if you normally use a PO box, you must provide a street address as well)
  • Phone number
  • Social Security number
  • Driver’s license
Please bring these documents:
  • A certified copy of deceased’s Death Certificate
  • If the deceased person had a will, bring the original and any codicils (amendments to the will)
  • If the deceased person had a trust
  • Existing trust(s) and any amendment(s) to the trust(s)
  • Will
  • Deed(s) to real property the decedent owned or the most recent property tax bill for each property
  • A list of other assets and how they are held (for example: individually, joint tenancy, or as trustee), including:

a. Checking accounts
b. Savings accounts
c. Certificates of deposit
d. Stocks
e. Bonds
f. Mutual funds
g. Life insurance policies
h. Any other assets with beneficiary designations

Please bring the following information about the value of the deceased’s estate:
  • The estimated value of the following:

a. Cash and cash equivalents
b. Bank accounts (copy of recent statement for each account)
c. Certificates of deposit (copy of recent statement for each)
d. Vehicles (copy of the Certificate of Title showing the VIN number), mileage, and condition
e. Stocks (copy of recent brokerage statements)
f. Contents of safety deposit boxes

  • The estimated value of the following (also include information about any named beneficiaries as well as any available identifying numbers):

a. Life insurance (copy of recent statement for each policy)
b. Pensions (copy of recent statement for each)
c. IRAs (copy of recent statement for each)

  • The following information for each piece of real property held at death:

a. Address
b. Estimated value (a couple of on-line sites you might try for a rough estimate of the value c. are trulia.com and zillow.com)
d. How it is held (for example: Community property, joint tenancy or tenants in common)
e. Any mortgages, reverse mortgages, or other loans

  • Estimated annual gross income, from:

a. Any rented real property
b. Personal property (stocks, bonds, savings accounts, certificates of deposit)

  • Information about the decedent’s creditors:

a. Name
b. Address
c. Amount owed