What estate documents am I missing?

[BradleyB]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

[ChicagoBear7]

I would add a Durable Power of Attorney and a HIPAA Release to the necessary documents. You should also consider prearing a "Death Book" or a "In Case of Emergency" document listing your banks, brokerages, IRAs, 401k, pensions, insurance etc -- so your representative or executor has an idea of what you have and where to look. You don't have put dollars - just where to inquiry if necessary.

[Cruise]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

I would think your estate attorney might know what needs updating and what is missing.

In addition to what one normally sees on lists, our attorney had us endorse a digital rights affidavit. That was new for us.

[BradleyB]

I would add a Durable Power of Attorney and a HIPAA Release to the necessary documents. You should also consider prearing a "Death Book" or a "In Case of Emergency" document listing your banks, brokerages, IRAs, 401k, pensions, insurance etc -- so your representative or executor has an idea of what you have and where to look. You don't have put dollars - just where to inquiry if necessary.

I do have that, including passwords. 2 copies here and kids have a copy.

No doubt the lawyer knows all this stuff, I just like to be prepared and know what questions to ask.

[OpenMinded1]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

I would think your estate attorney might know what needs updating and what is missing.

In addition to what one normally sees on lists, our attorney had us endorse a digital rights affidavit. That was new for us.

So what is a digital rights affidavit? I'm guessing it's something that gives someone the right to access another person's digital accounts, but not sure. Updating our estate plan will be my next fun project.

[Cruise]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

I would think your estate attorney might know what needs updating and what is missing.

In addition to what one normally sees on lists, our attorney had us endorse a digital rights affidavit. That was new for us.

So what is a digital rights affidavit? I'm guessing it's something that gives someone the right to access another person's digital accounts, but not sure. Updating our estate plan will be my next fun project.

I’m traveling and don’t have the document with me, but basically gives your POA access to all of your digital accounts so that they can be closed, accessed, etc.

[OpenMinded1]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

I would think your estate attorney might know what needs updating and what is missing.

In addition to what one normally sees on lists, our attorney had us endorse a digital rights affidavit. That was new for us.

So what is a digital rights affidavit? I'm guessing it's something that gives someone the right to access another person's digital accounts, but not sure. Updating our estate plan will be my next fun project.

I’m traveling and don’t have the document with me, but basically gives your POA access to all of your digital accounts so that they can be closed, accessed, etc.

Thanks. That sounds like it could be a great help to someone with POA.

[LookinAround]

We are meeting with our estate attorney next week.

We already have:
Wills
Health care power of attorney
Living wills

Not sure if we have financial POA, I can't find it if we do.

So, what else are we missing?

(My SIL is struggling something awful with his elderly parents and we don't want to put our kids through that.)

I skimmed the thread the other day. It looked like the list of docs you'd want were already covered (and matched mine) BUT after I just read this megathread myself, Finding out your Power of Attorney is useless (jump to page 5 for the more recent posts), suggest you check with each broker account if they have their own POA form. Seems filling out theirs as well can make the process much easier when the time comes. I just checked Vanguard - they do have their own POA form that can be filled out online. Will do mine tomorrow.

[BradleyB]

After this, we met with our attorney. He is going to generate a doc or two (I forget which) but most of the other stuff was in envelopes and I just didn't see them.

This was also a good kick in the rear to make sure that all of our accounts have beneficiaries. All are joint accounts. Schwab was easy and already done. Totally online. Our local bank-Fifth Third- was a total PIA. We have just enough in their brokerage division to get free services. All in Boglehead-friendly accounts. But you have to talk to this guy. Or that guy. "You are self-directed so I can't access that." Finally got it done.

But as a side note, I told my wife that he even mentions an annuity, we are pulling all of our money out. Fortunately, he has gotten the message.

Banks are terrible places to invest, but ok for a checking acct or credit card.