Law Offices of Craig Willford

Initial Data Gathering in Decedent's Estates

Data as of August 26, 2011

The typical initial data gathering includes:

• Data about people (people who are Will Beneficiaries, and the people who are those who would be heirs-at-law had there been no Will and people who are witnesses to the Will):
• Names;
• addresses;
• phone numbers;
• email adddresses;
• Social Security numbers (for the beneficiaries);
• any other contact information that might be useful.
• Data about assets, including but not limited to the following:
• Real properties, including:
• Street addresses;
• Assessor's Parcel Numbers (APNs);
• Copies of deeds and Trust Deeds;
• Tax Bills;
• Statements from lenders on debts against the realties;
• Initial opinion of values;
• Bank accounts, including:
• Statements from the banks from just before and just after the date of death;
• Data about "Payable on Death" (POD) beneficiaries on any of them;
• Copies of check registers;
• To the extent not provided above, the account numbers, names and addresses of the banks and the balances in each;
• Investments, including:
• Original Stock Certificates or Bonds, including U.S. Savings Bonds;
• Copies of brokerage account statements;
• To the extent not provided above, the account numbers, names and addresses of the entities and the values in each;
• Vehicles, including:
• Original "Pink" slips on:
• Cars;
• Boats;
• Motorcycles;
• Motorhomes;
• Trailers;
• Other vehicles, such as jet skis and ATVs, etc.
• Collectables, including:
• Original Bills of Sale (if you can find it) on:
• Stamps;
• Coins;
• Art works;
• Hummel figurines and similar items;
• Other collectables.
• Everything else of value;
• Everything of sentimental value.

The more that the Personal Representative can bring to the very first interview with the lawyer, the better all around for everyone.

This page and all pages of the www.craigwillford.com web site is copyright by Craig Willford on various dates; this page from 2003 to 2011.