Comprehensive Trust & Estate Planning Questionnaire

This comprehensive questionnaire will help ensure your estate plan is thorough, legally sound, and truly reflects your values and wishes. Please answer all questions to the best of your ability. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

Contact Information

Full Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number *

Mailing Address

Date of Birth

I. Core Objectives & Family Dynamics

Primary Goals

What are your primary objectives? (Check all that apply)

Probate avoidance Tax minimization Asset protection Privacy Medicaid planning Business succession Charitable legacy

What are your biggest concerns or fears about what happens to your assets and family after you're gone?

Do you have specific wishes about how beneficiaries should use their inheritance? (education, home purchase, entrepreneurship, etc.)

Family Structure & Relationships

Current Marital Status

Spouse/Partner Name (if applicable)

Number of Children

Children's Names and Ages

Are there blended family situations? (stepchildren, children from prior marriages, adopted children)

Yes No

If yes, please provide details about blended family situation:

Do any beneficiaries have special needs, disabilities, addiction issues, poor money management skills, or legal judgments against them?

Are there estranged family members who might contest the plan? Should any potential heirs be explicitly disinherited?

Are there unmarried partners, domestic partnerships, or other non-traditional relationships to address?

Do you wish to treat all children/beneficiaries equally, or are there reasons for unequal distribution?

II. Fiduciary Selection & Succession

Trustee Considerations

Who should serve as initial trustee?

Successor Trustees (in order of preference)

Have successor trustees been consulted and agreed?

Yes No Some have been consulted

Should you name a professional or corporate co-trustee for objectivity?

Yes No Unsure

What powers should trustees have? Describe any specific instructions:

Other Critical Roles

Executor/Personal Representative of Will (and successors)

Guardian of Minor Children/Dependents (if applicable)

Healthcare Surrogate/Power of Attorney (and backup designees)

Durable Financial Power of Attorney

When should financial POA become effective?

Immediately Only upon incapacity (springing)

III. Comprehensive Asset Inventory

Trust Funding Strategy

Real Property to Transfer (primary residence, vacation homes, rental properties, out-of-state property)

Financial Accounts (checking, savings, brokerage, CDs)

Business Interests (LLCs, S-corps, partnerships, professional practices)

Life Insurance Policies

Should life insurance be trust-owned for estate tax benefits?

Yes No Unsure

Assets Typically Kept Outside Trust

Retirement Accounts (IRAs, 401(k)s, etc.)

Should the trust be named as beneficiary of retirement accounts, or use individual beneficiaries?

Do you own Florida homestead property? Does homestead protection outweigh trust benefits in your situation?

Vehicles (that may be kept outside trust for daily use)

Often-Forgotten Assets

Digital Assets (cryptocurrency, online accounts, digital media, domain names, NFTs)

Intellectual Property (patents, copyrights, royalties)

Timeshares, Club Memberships, Valuable Collections (art, cars, jewelry)

Expected Inheritances, Lawsuit Proceeds, or Future Interests

Firearms

Estimated Total Net Worth

IV. Trust Architecture & Provisions

Trust Type Selection

Should this be revocable (modifiable) or irrevocable?

Revocable Irrevocable Unsure - need guidance

Is an asset protection trust appropriate for creditor shielding?

Yes No Unsure

Do any beneficiaries need special needs trusts to preserve government benefits?

Should you establish spendthrift provisions to protect against beneficiary creditors or divorcing spouses?

Yes No Unsure

Distribution Framework

At what ages should beneficiaries receive distributions?

Should distributions be tied to milestones? (college graduation, marriage, home purchase, starting a business)

Distribution Standard: Mandatory vs. Discretionary

Should there be incentive provisions (matching earned income) or disincentives (substance abuse testing)?

Marital Considerations

If married, should you use a joint trust or separate trusts for each spouse?

Joint Trust Separate Trusts Unsure Not Applicable

How should assets be protected if one spouse remarries?

Do you want a QTIP trust for estate tax deferral and control over ultimate beneficiaries?

Yes No Unsure

Equalization & Fairness

If gifting unequal assets (business to one child, real estate to another), how will you equalize?

Should life insurance be used to balance inheritances?

Yes No Unsure

How should personal items and items of sentimental value be distributed?

V. Tax Optimization & Financial Planning

Estate & Gift Tax Planning

Are you exposed to federal estate taxes? (Currently $13.99M per person in 2025)

Yes No Potentially in the future

Are you interested in using annual gift tax exclusions ($19,000 per recipient in 2025)?

Yes No Unsure

Would an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) be beneficial for your situation?

Yes No Unsure

Have you considered advanced techniques like GRATs or other tax strategies?

Florida-Specific Advantages

Are you currently a Florida resident?

Yes No Part-time resident (snowbird)

If you're a snowbird, are you interested in establishing Florida domicile for tax benefits?

Have you considered Florida's strong asset protection for tenancy by entireties property?

Yes No Need more information

VI. Incapacity Protection

Healthcare Directives

Do you have specific end-of-life wishes? (life support, organ donation, burial/cremation)

Should there be specific instructions about dementia care, nursing home preferences, or home care?

Financial Management During Incapacity

Who should determine incapacity?

Should the trust include a "trust protector" who can remove/replace trustees if you're incapacitated?

Yes No Unsure

VII. Business Succession & Entity Planning

Do you own a business?

Yes No

If yes, what is your business succession plan? (sale, family continuation, key employee buyout)

Are buy-sell agreements in place and funded with life insurance?

Should business interests be in a separate trust from personal assets?

Yes No Unsure

Should business assets be held in LLCs for liability protection?

VIII. Charitable Intent & Legacy

Do you want to include charitable beneficiaries in your estate plan?

Yes No Maybe

If yes, which charities or causes are important to you?

Should you establish a charitable remainder trust (CRT), donor-advised fund, or private foundation?

Do you want a scholarship fund, named endowment, or other specific charitable legacy?

IX. Administration & Maintenance

How often should the plan be reviewed?

Does the attorney offer complimentary reviews or charge hourly?

Where should original documents be stored?

X. Cost & Service Transparency

What is your preferred fee structure?

Flat fee (all-inclusive) Hourly rate No preference

Do you have questions about costs or services? Please describe:

XI. Dispute Prevention & Resolution

Should you include a "no contest" clause to discourage challenges?

Yes No Unsure

Would a family meeting or letter of explanation reduce misunderstandings?

Should you include mediation or arbitration requirements before litigation is allowed?

Yes No Unsure

Should beneficiaries receive copies of the trust now or only after your death?

What happens if a beneficiary predeceases you?

XII. Florida-Specific Considerations

Do you understand Florida's homestead devise restrictions if you have minor children or a surviving spouse?

Yes No - need explanation Not applicable

Are you aware of Florida's streamlined summary administration for small estates (<$75,000)?

Yes No

Have you considered a Florida domestic asset protection trust (DAPT) if concerned about lawsuits?

Yes No Interested - need more information

XIII. Final Preparations

Do you have a comprehensive list of accounts, passwords, and key contacts for fiduciaries?

Yes No - need to create In progress

Do family members know your wishes regarding funeral, burial/cremation, and memorial services?

Yes No Some do

Funeral and Memorial Preferences (if you'd like to specify):

Have you considered pre-paying funeral expenses?

Yes - already done Considering it No

Additional Information

Is there anything else you'd like to discuss or any concerns we haven't addressed?

How soon would you like to schedule a consultation?

Best time to contact you:

By submitting this questionnaire, you acknowledge that this information will be kept strictly confidential and used solely for estate planning consultation purposes.

Your responses will be sent to pierre@nlcfirm.com

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Comprehensive Trust & Estate Planning Questionnaire