Heirscript / Field guide
A calm place to begin

The estate planning checklist for a clearer next step.

An estate planning checklist turns a vague, important intention into a set of conversations and documents you can work through in order. Use this practical starting point to inventory what you have, name the people who may need to act, check that your instructions agree, and set a rhythm for review. It is educational preparation for a conversation with qualified professionals—not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.

Open the printable checklist Work through the four passes
Before the conversation
Bring the outline, not all the answers.
A starting point for a more useful professional meeting
What exists
Who may need to act
Where the records disagree
When to review
Progress over perfectionStart here

Work through in order

Four passes make the plan easier to see.

You do not need to solve every detail in one sitting. Use each pass to turn an abstract concern into a visible question, then bring the open questions to the right professional.

01

Make the full picture visible

Begin with a plain-language inventory. Visibility is more useful than perfection at this stage; the outline will show you what still needs attention.

  • Accounts, property, business interests, insurance, and digital assets
  • Debts, recurring obligations, and documents that are already in place
  • Where the latest versions of important records can be found
02

Name the people and responsibilities

Separate the people you want to benefit from the people who may need to make decisions or carry out instructions. Ask a qualified professional which documents apply in your jurisdiction.

  • People who may need to act if you are ill, unavailable, or have died
  • Beneficiaries, dependents, and family members whose needs should be discussed
  • Questions about guardianship, care, trusts, or business continuity
03

Check that the pieces agree

A signed document is only part of the picture. Compare the plan with account records and other instructions so the practical details do not point in different directions.

  • Beneficiary designations and account ownership
  • Personal instructions, business agreements, and insurance records
  • The names, contact details, and roles of the professionals involved
04

Set a review rhythm

Treat estate planning as a living conversation. Put a reminder on the calendar and revisit the plan when family, financial, health, or residence circumstances change.

  • A date for the next review and the person responsible for scheduling it
  • Major life changes that should trigger an earlier conversation
  • A simple way to tell the right people where current documents live

Keep the question moving

Read into the parts that matter most.

Start with the guide that matches your next conversation, then return to the checklist when you are ready to make the next step concrete.

Estate Planning, Without the FogTranslate the essential decisions into plain language.The Family Succession ConversationOpen the family conversation before the paperwork feels urgent.The Wealth Transfer PlaybookConnect technical choices to purpose, people, and readiness.Print the estate planning checklistTurn the estate-planning guide into a practical next-step list.

Questions, answered plainly

A checklist is a beginning, not a verdict.

These answers are educational starting points. Your documents and decisions should be reviewed with qualified professionals who understand your circumstances and jurisdiction.

Take the next small step

Gather the outline. Start the conversation.

Use the printable checklist alongside the guide, and bring the questions—not just the paperwork—to your next conversation.

Open the checklist