Estate Planning
Workbook

For Caregivers & Families

A comprehensive guide to organizing your parent's important documents, accounts, and wishes. Bring peace of mind to your family.

Important Disclaimer

This workbook is for organizational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal, financial, or tax advice. Estate planning laws vary by state and individual circumstances. Always consult with a licensed attorney, financial advisor, or tax professional before making estate planning decisions. ParentCareGuide is not responsible for any actions taken based on this workbook.

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1. Personal Information Summary

Complete this section with your parent's basic information. This serves as a quick reference for family members and professionals.

Primary Individual

Full Legal Name

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Driver's License Number

Current Address

Phone Number

Email Address

Spouse/Partner (if applicable)

Full Legal Name

Date of Birth

Social Security Number

Phone Number

Marriage Information

Date of Marriage

Location of Marriage Certificate

Security Note

Store this workbook in a secure location such as a locked file cabinet or safe. Do not store it digitally without encryption. Only share access with trusted family members or professionals.

2. Important Contacts

List all professionals and key contacts who handle your parent's affairs. Having this information readily available is essential during emergencies.

Role	Name / Company	Phone	Email
Primary Care Doctor
Specialist #1 Type: ___________
Specialist #2 Type: ___________
Attorney (Estate)
Attorney (Elder Law)
Financial Advisor
Accountant / CPA
Insurance Agent
Banker
Pharmacy
Religious Leader
Funeral Home

Family Emergency Contacts

Name	Relationship	Phone	Address

3. Asset Inventory

Document all assets to ensure nothing is overlooked during estate planning. This inventory helps attorneys, financial advisors, and family members understand the full financial picture.

Bank Accounts

Bank Name	Account Type	Account # (last 4)	Approx. Balance	Joint Owner?

Investment & Retirement Accounts

Institution	Account Type (IRA, 401k, etc.)	Account # (last 4)	Approx. Value	Beneficiary

Beneficiary Reminder

Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance typically override what's written in a will. Review these designations regularly, especially after major life events like death of a spouse, divorce, or birth of grandchildren.

Real Estate

Property Address	Type (Home, Rental, Land)	Est. Value	Mortgage Balance	Title Held By

Vehicles

Year / Make / Model	VIN (last 6)	Est. Value	Loan Balance	Title Location

Insurance Policies

Type (Life, LTC, etc.)	Company	Policy Number	Death Benefit / Coverage	Beneficiary

Social Security & Pensions

Income Source	Monthly Amount	Survivor Benefit?	Contact Information
Social Security
Pension #1:
Pension #2:

Debts & Liabilities

Creditor	Type of Debt	Balance Owed	Monthly Payment	Account Number

Valuable Personal Property

List jewelry, art, antiques, collections, or other items of significant value.

Item Description	Est. Value	Location	Intended Recipient

Digital Assets

Asset Type	Platform / Website	Approx. Value	Access Instructions Location
Cryptocurrency
Online Business
Domain Names
Digital Photos/Media
Loyalty Points/Miles

4. Account Access Tracker

Document login information for important accounts. Store this page separately in a highly secure location (safe deposit box, encrypted file, or with attorney).

Security Warning

Never store passwords in plain text digitally. Consider using a password manager and providing trusted family members with access instructions. This page should be stored in a locked safe or safety deposit box.

Account / Website	Username / Email	Password Hint	Security Questions Location
Email (Primary)
Email (Secondary)
Bank #1
Bank #2
Investment Account
Social Security
Medicare
Insurance Portal
Utility #1
Utility #2
Phone/Cell
Cable/Internet

Password Manager Used (if any)

Master Password Location / Access Instructions

5. Beneficiary Review Checklist

Beneficiary designations on financial accounts typically override your will. Review these annually and after any major life event (death, divorce, birth, marriage).

401(k) / 403(b) Retirement Accounts Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Traditional IRA Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Roth IRA Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Life Insurance Policy #1 Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Life Insurance Policy #2 Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Annuities Primary beneficiary: _________________ Contingent: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Bank Accounts (POD - Payable on Death) Designated to: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Brokerage Accounts (TOD - Transfer on Death) Designated to: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No
Pension / Survivor Benefits Designated to: _________________ Last reviewed: __________ Updated needed? Yes / No

Common Beneficiary Mistakes to Avoid

1) Naming minor children directly (use a trust instead) 2) Forgetting to update after divorce 3) Naming your estate as beneficiary (loses tax advantages) 4) Not naming contingent beneficiaries 5) Outdated addresses making beneficiaries hard to locate

6. Power of Attorney Checklist

A Power of Attorney (POA) allows someone to make decisions on your parent's behalf. There are different types for different purposes. Consult an attorney to create these documents properly.

Financial Power of Attorney

Document has been created Date created: __________ Attorney who prepared: __________
Document is "durable" (remains valid if incapacitated)
Agent (person with authority) designated Primary Agent: _________________ Phone: _________________
Successor Agent designated Successor Agent: _________________ Phone: _________________
Copies provided to banks and financial institutions

Healthcare Power of Attorney / Healthcare Proxy

Document has been created Date created: __________ State: __________
Healthcare Agent designated Primary Agent: _________________ Phone: _________________
Alternate Healthcare Agent designated Alternate: _________________ Phone: _________________
Copies provided to doctors and hospitals
Agent understands parent's wishes for medical care

Location of Original POA Documents

Important

Powers of Attorney must be created while your parent is mentally competent. Don't wait until a crisis. Some financial institutions have their own POA forms they prefer - check with banks in advance.

7. Healthcare Directive Worksheet

A Healthcare Directive (Living Will) documents your parent's wishes for medical treatment. This worksheet helps organize thoughts before meeting with an attorney to create the legal document.

Reminder

This worksheet is for discussion and planning purposes. The actual Healthcare Directive must be a legal document prepared according to your state's requirements. Consult with an elder law attorney.

Life-Sustaining Treatment Preferences

For each treatment, indicate preference: Want / Do Not Want / Decide at the Time / Let Agent Decide

Treatment	Preference	Notes
CPR (if heart/breathing stops)
Mechanical Ventilation (breathing machine)
Feeding Tube (artificial nutrition)
IV Fluids (artificial hydration)
Dialysis (kidney failure treatment)
Antibiotics (for life-threatening infection)
Blood Transfusions
Surgery (life-saving)

Pain Management

Pain management preferences (e.g., comfort is priority even if it shortens life)

Quality of Life Considerations

Conditions under which aggressive treatment should be stopped or withheld:

Hospice & Palliative Care

Open to hospice care when appropriate Focus on comfort rather than cure when prognosis is terminal
Prefer to die at home if possible
Open to inpatient hospice facility

Organ & Tissue Donation

Organ donation wishes:

Religious or Spiritual Considerations

Religious/spiritual beliefs that should guide medical decisions:

Clergy or spiritual advisor to contact:

Additional Wishes

Any other instructions or preferences for medical care:

POLST / MOLST Forms

Ask your parent's doctor about POLST (Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) or MOLST forms. These are medical orders that travel with your parent and are immediately actionable by emergency responders, unlike advance directives which may not be available in emergencies.

8. Document Location Guide

Knowing where to find important documents quickly is critical during emergencies. Complete this guide and share the location with trusted family members.

Document	Location	Digital Copy?
Will
Trust Documents
Financial Power of Attorney
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Living Will / Healthcare Directive
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Divorce Decree (if applicable)
Social Security Card
Passport
Military Discharge (DD-214)
Property Deeds
Vehicle Titles
Life Insurance Policies
Health Insurance Cards
Medicare Card
Tax Returns (last 3 years)
Safe Deposit Box Key
Prepaid Funeral Arrangements

Safe Deposit Box Location (Bank/Branch)

Box Number

Who else has access to safe deposit box?

9. Letter to My Family

This letter allows your parent to share personal wishes, values, and messages with loved ones. It's not a legal document but provides guidance and comfort to family members.

Personal Values & Beliefs

What matters most to me in life:

How I want to be remembered:

Funeral & Memorial Wishes

Burial or Cremation preference:

Cemetery/Location preference:

Type of service desired (religious, celebration of life, private, etc.):

Music, readings, or other elements to include:

People who should be notified / invited to speak:

Charitable donations in lieu of flowers (organizations):

Messages to Loved Ones

To my spouse/partner:

To my children:

To my grandchildren:

To others (friends, siblings, caregivers):

Special Requests

Any other wishes, instructions, or things I want my family to know:

Signature:

Date:

10. Estate Planning Timeline

Use this checklist to track progress on essential estate planning tasks. Work with an attorney to complete these items.

Immediate Priorities (Complete First)

Create/Update Will Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Create Durable Financial Power of Attorney Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Create Healthcare Power of Attorney Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Create Living Will / Healthcare Directive Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Review/Update Beneficiary Designations Target date: __________ Completed: __________

Important Next Steps

Organize Important Documents Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Complete Asset Inventory Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Discuss Wishes with Healthcare Agent Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Provide Copies to Banks/Institutions Target date: __________ Completed: __________
Consider Trust (if appropriate) Target date: __________ Completed: __________

Annual Review Tasks

Review and Update This Workbook Last review: __________ Next review: __________
Verify Beneficiaries are Current Last review: __________ Next review: __________
Update Asset Values Last review: __________ Next review: __________
Confirm Agent Contact Information Last review: __________ Next review: __________

11. Professional Consultation Prep

Prepare for meetings with attorneys and financial advisors by organizing questions and information in advance.

Questions for Estate Planning Attorney

Do we need a trust, or is a will sufficient for our situation?
How can we minimize estate taxes?
Should we consider Medicaid planning for long-term care?
How do we protect assets from nursing home costs?
What happens to the house if one spouse needs nursing home care?
How should we handle jointly owned property?
What are the rules for gifting assets to children?
How do we handle digital assets and accounts?

Additional questions for attorney:

Questions for Financial Advisor

Are retirement account beneficiaries up to date?
Should we consider long-term care insurance?
How should we draw down retirement savings?
Is our investment allocation appropriate for our age?

Additional questions for financial advisor:

Before Your Meeting

Bring this completed workbook, recent tax returns, statements for all accounts, existing legal documents (wills, trusts, POAs), and a list of your questions. The more prepared you are, the more productive the meeting will be.

Workbook Complete

Thank you for taking this important step toward organizing your family's estate plan. Remember to review and update this workbook annually.

Final Reminder

This workbook is for organizational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state and change frequently. Always consult with qualified attorneys and financial professionals for personalized guidance on estate planning matters.

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Estate PlanningWorkbook