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Estate Planning Questionnaire

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Estate Planning Questionnaire

DATE:

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name:

Birth date:   U.S. Citizen:

Principal Residence:

Any other Domicile:

Domicile in community property states (if ever):

Birthplace:   Social Security Number:

Dates of such domicile:

Community property acquired:

Business or profession:

Still: Active    Retired

Current marital status: Single Married Widowed Divorced

Prior Marriages (if any):

Name of former spouse(s):

Name and ages of children of prior marriages:

How and when prior marriage(s) ended:

Principal bank(s):

Personal Trust officer:

Location of safe deposit box(es):

Accountant:

Investment advisor:

Insurance advisor:

SPOUSE

Name:

Date and place of birth:   U.S. Citizen:

Social Security Number:

Date and place of marriage:

Legally separated:

When and where:

Residence (if different from estate owner’s):

Business or profession:

CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

(Designate which children or grandchildren, if any, are adopted, are stepchildren or are children of a prior marriage)

Name Birth date Relationship Domicile Name of Spouse
WHO WILL BENEFIT UNDER WILL

Name / Address / Age / Status

FIDUCIARIES

Executor(s)

Name:

Address:

Successor(s) Name:

Successor(s) Address:

Trustee(s)

Name:

Address:

Successor(s) Name:

Successor(s) Address:

Children’s Guardian(s)

Name:

Address:

Successor(s) Name:

Successor(s) Address:

GIFTS MADE DURING LIFE

(obtain copies of instruments of transfer and gift tax returns)

Donee:

Date of Gift:

Type of property given:

Date of gift value:

Outright or trust gift:

Was gift split with spouse? If yes, who paid gift tax?

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. REAL ESTATE (including condominium, apartment)

B. STOCKS AND BONDS

C. U.S. government bonds

D. CASH

E. MORTGAGES AND PROMISSORY NOTES

F. LIFE INSURANCE

G. GENERAL POWERS OF APPOINTMENT

H. ANNUITIES AND DEATH BENEFITS

ASSETS: DESCRIPTION OF ALL ASSETS

(To avoid confusion at a later date, describe each item as clearly as possible.)

LIABILITIES

Total Debts and Liabilities:

Summary of Assets and Liabilities

Total Assets:

Less Total Liabilities:

Net Worth:

RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
INCOME

Income of Husband (Monthly)

Income of Wife

WORKSHEETS

(Who will receive your property)

Do you want all property to go to spouse, or if spouse not alive to your children? Yes   If no please continue. If yes, stop.

Who is to receive home?

Describe who you desire to receive other property.

Describe any other last wishes

ADDENDUM

(For Additional Information)

Signature:

Date:

Witness Signature:

Date:

Enter text

What the Estate Planning Questionnaire Is and When It’s Used

An Estate Planning Questionnaire is a structured intake form used to gather the factual, financial, and personal information an attorney or fiduciary needs to prepare wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and related estate documents. The questionnaire typically collects identities of spouses and beneficiaries, asset and liability schedules, retirement and insurance details, health‑care preferences, and executor or trustee nominations. It is an internal document that speeds document drafting, reduces follow‑up questions, and creates an audit trail of the testator’s instructions prior to formal execution and notarization of estate instruments.

Why a Well‑Prepared Questionnaire Matters

Completing a detailed Estate Planning Questionnaire reduces drafting errors, shortens attorney review time, and helps ensure beneficiary and asset data are accurate before legal documents are executed.

Why a Well‑Prepared Questionnaire Matters

Who Typically Completes and Relies on This Questionnaire

The questionnaire is completed by individuals, families, and their advisors to collect information needed for estate documents.

  • Individuals and couples preparing wills and trusts for personal estates.
  • Estate planning attorneys and paralegals drafting legal instruments from the collected facts.
  • Financial advisors and trustees coordinating asset titling and beneficiary designations.

Primary Roles Involved

Client / Testator

The person whose estate plan is being created. You provide full legal names, asset lists, beneficiary choices, health directives, and any special bequests; accuracy affects distribution, tax outcomes, and probate timelines.

Attorney / Drafting Counsel

Licensed counsel reviews questionnaire responses, advises on legal consequences, drafts documents, and verifies formal execution requirements; the attorney is responsible for translating facts into enforceable estate planning instruments.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Questionnaire

A comprehensive Estate Planning Questionnaire organizes information into discrete sections so attorneys can draft accurate instruments without multiple follow‑ups.

Personal Details

Full legal names, aliases, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, marital status, prior marriages, and contact information for all principals and potential witnesses.

Family & Beneficiaries

Names, relationships, contact details of primary and contingent beneficiaries, minor guardianship preferences, and any special needs or trust requirements.

Assets Summary

Bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, life insurance, real estate, business interests, and estimated values with account numbers or identifying details.

Liabilities

Mortgages, loans, credit lines, and other debts that affect net estate value and may influence distribution strategies.

Healthcare & Powers

Medical decision maker designation, organ donation wishes, desired life‑sustaining treatment preferences, and durable power of attorney nominations.

Disposition Preferences

Specific bequests, residuary estate directions, funeral and burial instructions, charitable gifts, and contingent distribution rules.

Step‑by‑Step: Completing the Questionnaire

Follow the sequence below to gather documents and complete the questionnaire efficiently.

  • 01
    Gather Documents: Collect deeds, account statements, insurance policies, and trust documents.
  • 02
    Complete Sections: Fill personal, asset, beneficiary, and health sections entirely.
  • 03
    Review with Counsel: Share answers with your attorney for legal review and clarification.
  • 04
    Sign and Authenticate: Sign in presence of required witnesses or notarize per state rules.

How the Online eSubmission Workflow Typically Operates

Digital workflows streamline collection, review, and storage while preserving an audit trail for each submission.

  • Prepare Template: Upload the questionnaire and mark required fields for responses.
  • Distribute Link: Send a secure signing link or invite to the respondent's email.
  • Authenticate Signer: Use email, SMS code, or stronger verification as configured.
  • Capture Audit Trail: System records timestamps, IP, and actions for later review.

Configuring an Online Questionnaire Workflow

Configure these settings when deploying the questionnaire digitally to ensure data quality and legal readiness.

Field Configuration
Required fields Mark critical fields mandatory to prevent incomplete submissions.
Conditional logic Show follow‑up fields only when relevant answers are provided.
Authentication Choose email, SMS, KBA or multi‑factor for signer identity.
Export format Enable PDF or CSV export for storage and attorney intake.

Technical and Integration Considerations

Ensure the chosen platform supports common integrations, secure storage, and required file formats before deployment.

  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365 integration options
  • File types: PDF, DOCX, and Excel import/export supported
  • Authentication: SMS, email, or advanced signer verification

Timing Guidance and Typical Turnaround

The questionnaire itself usually has no formal filing deadline but should be completed early in the planning process.

Upon Engagement:

Complete questionnaire at or before the initial attorney meeting.

Before Drafting:

Provide full asset and beneficiary details before documents are drafted.

Before Execution:

Finalize answers at least one business day prior to signing appointments.

Annual Review:

Review and update every 1–3 years or after material life changes.

No Filing Deadline:

The questionnaire is internal and typically has no government filing deadline.

Key Milestones from Questionnaire to Document Execution

Track these sequential milestones to move from data collection to legally executed estate instruments.

01

Questionnaire Sent

Client receives and begins answering intake questions.

02

Questionnaire Completed

All required fields completed and supporting documents attached.

03

Attorney Review

Counsel reviews submissions and requests clarifications if needed.

04

Document Execution

Wills, trusts, or POAs are signed and notarized per state rules.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing the Questionnaire

  • Incomplete asset details that omit account numbers or titling, leading to beneficiary designation errors and additional attorney time.
  • Ambiguous beneficiary descriptions that fail to use full legal names and relationships, which can cause probate disputes or misdirected distributions.
  • Failure to list contingent beneficiaries or successor trustees, leaving the estate subject to intestacy rules or court appointment.
  • Missing or inconsistent dates and signatures that complicate capacity questions and may require notarization or witness testimony to validate.

Risks and Potential Consequences of Incorrect Responses

Invalid Beneficiary: Results in contested distributions or intestacy.
TIN Mismatch: May trigger IRS backup withholding at 24%.
Unsigned Form: Attorney cannot rely on unsigned instructions.
Outdated Data: Leads to incorrect trustee or guardian appointments.
Failure to Notarize: May void certain powers of attorney or deeds.
Incomplete Asset Info: Can delay probate and increase legal fees.

Essential Information Fields to Collect

Legal Names: Full legal names required
Dates of Birth: MM/DD/YYYY format
Contact Details: Phone, email, address
Asset Details: Account type and value
Beneficiary Info: Primary and contingent names
Authentication: Signature and date

Real‑World Examples of Questionnaire Use

These short examples show how completed questionnaires support practical estate planning outcomes.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin, founder, used the questionnaire to consolidate tenant and property data before trust funding.

  • The questionnaire captured title and mortgage details concisely.
  • As a result, counsel drafted trusts and retitled real estate without repeated follow‑ups, saving multiple office hours and clarifying successor trustee permissions for each property.

Fertility Centers

John Butler, founder, relied on intake forms to gather employee and asset lists prior to succession planning.

  • The structured intake minimized missing data in health‑care directives.
  • That preparation allowed attorneys to prepare targeted advance directives and corporate succession documents with minimal revision cycles, streamlining implementation across multiple business entities.

eSignature Vendor Comparison for Estate Intake Workflows

Compare starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trail, HIPAA support, and envelope limits across common eSignature vendors used for estate planning intake.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7‑day trial Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan
Bulk Send Yes (Business Premium) Yes Yes Yes Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes (BAA available) Yes Yes Varies Varies

Frequently Asked Questions — Common Practical Issues

Answers to common operational and legal questions about using and eSigning an Estate Planning Questionnaire.


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