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Katz & Associates / Your first planning meeting
You do not need to arrive knowing which trust to choose. Bring a clear picture of your people, property, and priorities, plus the questions you cannot yet answer.
Useful preparation, not a perfect file
For a first estate planning meeting, gather your existing documents, a rough asset list, current ownership and beneficiary records, and the names of people you may want to act for you. Note family needs and any urgent concern.
If something is missing, list it as a question. A first conversation can help identify what else is needed. When seeking Florida estate planning advice, explain what you want the plan to do rather than starting with a document you think you must buy.
Begin with what exists
Bring any will, trust and amendments, power of attorney, living will, and health-care surrogate document you already have. Include documents signed in another state. Do not assume an older plan is useless or that moving to Florida changed every part of it.
For each major asset, note what it is, who owns it, and whether a beneficiary is listed. A recent account statement can help, but the current beneficiary form or ownership record may answer a different question. Bring the recorded deed for real estate if available.
The Florida Bar’s probate guide explains that some assets pass through probate while others may pass through survivorship or beneficiary arrangements. That is why “I own a bank account” is not enough detail. How it is held matters.
Include debts, business interests, insurance, and property outside Florida. Rough values may help frame the conversation; ask whether exact figures or formal valuations are needed. Do not pay for an appraisal solely for this meeting unless advised that it is useful.
Keep private details private. Ask the firm how to share records securely. A preparation list should identify an account without exposing its password, security codes, or full account number in an ordinary email.
Names are only the start
List the people you may want to handle money, make health-care choices, manage a trust, or administer an estate. The roles are not interchangeable. One person may suit several jobs, but they need to understand each one.
Consider reliability, willingness, location, time, and the ability to work with others. A close relationship does not always make someone the best fit for a difficult role. Think about a backup in case your first choice cannot serve.
For health care, Florida’s surrogate statute expressly allows an alternate and requires a copy of the signed designation to be provided to the surrogate. Planning includes telling the person what you have chosen, not only putting their name on paper.
If you have minor children or support a dependent, describe their needs and the current care arrangements. Tell the lawyer about a loved one’s needs-based benefits before deciding how to leave them property. You do not need to solve those issues on your own before the meeting.
Explain the outcome you want
Perhaps you want someone to manage bills during an illness. You may want to provide for a spouse and children from an earlier relationship, keep a business running, or reduce confusion after your death. Write down the concern in plain language.
Then add what you do not want to give up. Control during your life, access to savings, flexibility to change your mind, and fair treatment of family members may all matter. These goals can shape the options.
Our estate-plan coverage map can help you spot a missing decision. Use it to form questions, not to diagnose your documents or choose a trust on your own.
A first-meeting preparation sheet
This is a general preparation aid, not Katz & Associates’ required intake form. Ask the firm what it wants before sending sensitive records.
| Bring or note | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Existing signed documents | Which still fit, and which need review together? |
| Deeds and account records | Does the current ownership match my intended transfer? |
| Beneficiary records | Who is listed now, and what happens if that person dies first? |
| Decision-makers and backups | Which role fits each person, and what authority is needed? |
| Family and care needs | What rights, support needs, or benefit rules could affect the plan? |
| Your top concerns | Which problem should we address first? |
| Unknown or missing items | Who should obtain them, and when are they needed? |
A useful first draft can include “unknown.” Flag the gap rather than guessing.
Leave with a clear next-step list
Before work begins, ask about the proposed scope, fee, and any separate tasks or costs. Find out what information is still needed and how changes to the plan will be handled.
If a trust is proposed, ask which assets should be transferred to it and who will complete each step. The Florida Bar’s revocable-trust guide explains why funding matters. Signing a trust is not the same as changing the title of every intended asset.
Our asset-transfer checklist helps distinguish the planned route from the record that shows it is in place. Do not retitle a home or retirement account without advice about the consequences.
Ask where originals should be kept, who needs copies, and which providers should have relevant documents. Include digital property and account-access choices in the discussion; a list of passwords alone is not an estate plan.
Finally, agree on what should prompt another review. A marriage, divorce, birth, death, new business, move, or major asset change may affect the facts behind your choices. Keep the next-step list with your plan so unfinished tasks do not disappear into the folder.
Bring your questions
Contact Katz & Associates to discuss estate planning and ask what records would be useful for your first conversation.
Common questions
No. Explain your goals and bring the relevant records. Ask how each proposed tool would address your needs and what work it would require afterward.
Yes. Bring the actual documents rather than relying on a summary. The lawyer can assess how they fit your current circumstances and Florida law.
List what is missing and what you know. Ask which items are needed first. Do not delay raising an urgent concern just to make the file complete.
About the author
By Katz & Associates. Published by Katz & Associates Law Firm.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice about your plan.
Sources checked October 26, 2026. The preparation sheet is an educational aid.
