Block 1 · Asset Profile · 01
Do you own real estate?
Primary residence, vacation home, rental property, or land — any titled real property.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 02
Do you own real estate in more than one state?
Multi-state property triggers ancillary probate — a separate court process in each state.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 03
What is your estimated gross estate value?
All assets combined — property, retirement accounts, brokerage, business interests, life insurance death benefit.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 04
Do you own a business, LLC, or partnership interest?
Any ownership stake in a private business entity, including sole proprietorships with significant value.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 05
Do you hold cryptocurrency or other digital assets?
Bitcoin, Ethereum, NFTs, or any asset stored in a digital wallet your heirs would need access to.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 06
Do you have accounts without a payable-on-death beneficiary?
Bank accounts or brokerage accounts where no beneficiary is named — these flow through probate by default.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 07
Do you own valuable physical collections?
Art, jewelry, collectibles, vehicles, instruments — items with significant resale or sentimental value.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 08
Do you have solo-named (not joint) brokerage or investment accounts?
Accounts in only your name, without a joint owner or transfer-on-death beneficiary.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 09
Are you expecting a significant future inheritance?
Money or property you reasonably expect to receive from parents or other relatives in the next 10 years.
Block 1 · Asset Profile · 10
Is your estate approaching your state's estate tax exemption?
Most states have no estate tax. Some (NY, MA, OR, WA, others) tax estates above $1M–$3M. Federal exemption is much higher.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 11
What is your relationship status?
Your current legal status affects how default state inheritance laws treat your estate.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 12
Do you have minor children?
Children or stepchildren under age 18 who depend on you.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 13
Do you have a blended family?
Children from a previous relationship, stepchildren, or a remarriage where biological children exist on either side.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 14
Do you have a dependent with special needs?
A child, sibling, or other dependent who relies on government benefits (SSI, Medicaid) that direct inheritance could disqualify them from.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 15
Is any beneficiary financially vulnerable?
A potential heir with addiction issues, gambling problems, large debt, or poor financial judgment that a lump-sum inheritance could harm.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 16
Is any beneficiary at risk of divorce or lawsuit?
An adult child in a fragile marriage or facing legal exposure — their inheritance could become part of a divorce settlement or judgment.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 17
Do you want to intentionally disinherit anyone?
A child, sibling, or other person who would normally inherit under state law that you specifically want to exclude.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 18
Do you financially support an adult dependent?
An adult child still living with you, an aging parent, or any other adult who relies on you for ongoing financial support.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 19
Do you have pets requiring ongoing care?
Animals that would need a designated caretaker (and possibly funds) if something happened to you.
Block 2 · Family Structure · 20
Do you anticipate family conflict over your estate?
Tensions between heirs, an estranged child, or any reason to expect contested decisions after you're gone.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 21
How important is keeping your financial details private?
A Will becomes public record once probated. A Trust keeps your financial details out of court files.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 22
Do you want to distribute inheritance as a lump sum, or over time?
A Will hands beneficiaries their share immediately. A Trust can stage distributions over years or by milestone.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 23
Do you want age-staggered distribution to children?
For example: one-third at 25, one-third at 30, the remainder at 35. Only a Trust can do this.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 24
Do you want to restrict how an inheritance is used?
For example: distributions only for education, only for healthcare, or only after specific conditions are met.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 25
If married, do you want bloodline protection if your spouse remarries?
Without a Trust, your spouse inheriting your estate can later disinherit your biological children — intentionally or by remarrying.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 26
Do you intend to leave a charitable bequest?
A gift to a charity, religious organization, or cause as part of your estate plan.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 27
Do you want incentive-based inheritance terms?
For example: a child receives their share only after completing a degree, staying sober for X years, or matching their inheritance with earned income.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 28
Do you want to minimize estate processing time for your family?
Probate takes 6–18 months. A Trust allows near-immediate access to assets after death.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 29
Would you consider a professional trustee or trust company?
A bank, trust company, or attorney serving as trustee instead of a family member. Useful for complex estates or to avoid family conflict.
Block 3 · Privacy & Control · 30
Are you concerned about a court-appointed executor or administrator?
Without proper planning, the probate court can appoint someone you wouldn't have chosen to manage your estate.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 31
Do you have a financial power of attorney in place?
A legally binding document naming someone to manage your finances if you become incapacitated.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 32
Do you have a private successor lined up for incapacity?
A specific person — not the court — you'd want stepping in if you couldn't manage your own affairs.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 33
Do you have a documented healthcare directive?
A living will, advance directive, or healthcare power of attorney stating your medical preferences and naming a proxy.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 34
Are you concerned about long-term care costs draining your assets?
Nursing home or assisted living at $80,000–$120,000/year can quickly deplete an unprotected estate.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 35
Do you have a trusted person to manage finances if needed?
Someone who knows your accounts, has your trust, and would step in capably if you became incapacitated.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 36
Are you worried about public guardianship or conservatorship?
If you become incapacitated without proper documents, your family may need court intervention — a public, slow, expensive process.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 37
Do you have out-of-state assets that would face emergency access issues?
Property, business interests, or accounts in other states that your family would need to access urgently after your death.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 38
Have you documented digital access instructions?
Passwords, two-factor authentication recovery, email accounts, cloud storage — information your family would need to access digital assets.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 39
Do you hold high-risk active investments?
Margin accounts, options positions, leveraged businesses, or other holdings that need active management to avoid losses.
Block 4 · Incapacity & Legacy · 40
Should your estate framework be updatable as your life changes?
Most people want a framework that adapts to marriages, births, deaths, moves. A Revocable Trust offers this. An Irrevocable Trust does not.