The attorney, accountant, advisor and agent who already know your affairs, and how to make sure your family can find them.
When something happens, the fastest help comes from the people who already know your affairs. Your family needs their names, and ideally those people already know each other.
Write down who they are, tell your executor, and send one introduction email with everyone copied.
| Role | Why the family needs them |
|---|---|
| Estate attorney | Holds or drafted the will and trust, and knows where the originals are. |
| Accountant or tax preparer | Has past returns and knows what is owed. A final return is due for the year someone dies. |
| Financial advisor | Knows every investment account and who is named on each. |
| Insurance agent | Can start life insurance claims and keep home and auto coverage in place. |
| Banker | Can explain which accounts are joint and which pass to a named person. |
| Executor and trustee | The people you named to carry out your plans. |
| Employer benefits contact | Life insurance, retirement plans and final pay often run through work. |
Add anyone else who regularly handles your money or property, such as a property manager or a business partner.
An executor who has never met your attorney starts from scratch at the worst time. A short introduction now fixes that.
Some financial advisors are fiduciaries, which means they are required to act in your best interest. Others are not. Ask directly, and write down the answer.
Advisors retire, firms merge, and phone numbers change. Look at the list once a year, at tax time is easy, and any time you change advisors or update your will.
The executor carries out your will: gathers what you own, pays debts and taxes, and distributes what is left. It can take a year or more.
An executor can hire the attorney and accountant, and their fees are usually paid from the estate.
Many households have no attorney or advisor until they need one. Two are worth having before a crisis.
Ask friends or family for referrals, and ask each advisor how they are paid before you start.
The Life Binder has an Advisors and professionals page with room for every advisor and a check for whether each person has been told.
Download the Life Binder (PDF)Paper goes stale. Hubstone holds the same record and keeps it current, and you choose who sees each page.
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Requirements differ by state.