Personal Estate Planning Checklist

* Have you had your will reviewed and/or updated within five years?

* Have you signed a new durable power of attorney within five years?

* Does your durable power of attorney contain a gift-giving provision?

* Have you executed a living will within five years?

* Does your living will contain a designation of a health care agent and a designation of a conservator?

* Have you reviewed the beneficiary designations on your insurance policies within the last five years?

* Have you designated a beneficiary and a contingent beneficiary on your IRAs, 401Ks, or other pension plans?

* Does your spouse or children or executor know where you keep your important documents?

* Do you have a fireproof box at home or a safety deposit box at the bank which someone other than you and your spouse may enter?

* Do you have the following documents in your fireproof or safety deposit box? Will, durable powers of attorney, birth certificate, marriage license, deeds, Social Security card, and life insurance policies.

* Have you saved the following items? Five years of statements for all bank accounts (including canceled checks over $500) and brokerage accounts; closing papers for the sale of real estate within the last five years; and five years of back income tax returns.