Before you come in
A consultation goes further when you bring a rough picture of your finances rather than polished statements. List your main assets and roughly how each is owned: real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, business interests, and anything held abroad. Note who is named as beneficiary on retirement accounts and insurance, since those forms often control more than a will does. Bring copies of existing wills, trusts, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and any divorce or custody orders. If a family member has special needs, receives public benefits, or is a minor, mention it early. It also helps to think in advance about who you would trust to act for you.
Questions we will ask
Much of the meeting is conversation about people rather than paperwork. We ask who depends on you, whether there are children from earlier relationships, and whether anyone should receive money over time rather than all at once. We ask who should make medical and financial decisions if you cannot, and whether those people live nearby and get along. We ask about property in other states or countries, since that can mean estate proceedings in more than one place. We also ask whether you and your spouse are US citizens, because transfers to a spouse who is not a citizen are taxed under different rules. Your answers shape whether a will-based plan is enough or whether trusts are worth considering.
What you leave with
When a first meeting ends, you should have a sense of which documents make sense for you, such as a will, a revocable trust, a power of attorney, a health care proxy, and updated beneficiary forms. We explain how the work would be scoped, how fees are set, and what we need from you before drafting begins. Some plans are straightforward; others need coordination with an accountant, a financial adviser, or counsel abroad. We also talk about signing, because New York has formal requirements for executing wills and some other documents, and a plan is not in effect until they are met. Finally, we suggest when the plan should be reviewed again.
