What Other Documents Might My Personal Representative Need?

When you pass away the will is the basic document in your estate plan that helps make things easy for this person but it’s not the only document that your executor might need. If you can be organized and work with an estate planning lawyer to discuss the specifics of your situation, you will make it that much easier for your executor to know where to look to find this important information.

Most executors will not know about the location of your primary filing documents and if these are located in multiple different places it will be even harder for them to identify it. A couple of things that you can do to help make your executor’s situation easier include gathering data, such as:

Birth dates of all minor children
Birth dates of any individuals whose inheritance is contingent on reaching a certain age
Names and addresses for any witnesses to the will
Copies of any trusts and amendments
Preliminary list of known debts
Preliminary list of non-probate assets
Preliminary list of probate assets
Copies of any contracts, leases or deeds
Three years of income tax returns
Any gift tax returns filed
The decedent’s home address
The decedent’s date of birth

You can make things much easier for your executor by doing this work in advance. There is plenty to think about when it comes to leaving a comprehensive plan behind for your loved ones or your estate administrator. Talk with our NH estate planning lawyers to learn more about your options.