Getting ready for your first meeting can feel a bit awkward, but it doesn’t have to be. At Price Law Firm, APC, we have helped over 1,000 local families create solid plans to protect what they have built.
Attorney Sam Price takes the time to learn your story, then builds a plan that fits your goals and family dynamics. Without thoughtful planning, long-term care costs can swallow savings that took a lifetime to build. Sam offers a free consultation, allowing you to ask questions about wills, trusts, and protection strategies with no pressure at all.
Why Proper Preparation Matters for Your Estate Planning Consultation
Providing accurate information helps us create a plan tailored to your needs and the people you care about. You do not need to have every statement or exact number, but a clear snapshot goes a long way.
Good preparation keeps the meeting focused, which often saves time and reduces the need for back-and-forth later. It also helps us spot gaps early, so your plan comes out complete and reliable.
Most of all, showing up with basics on hand prevents oversights that could affect taxes, beneficiary choices, or who has authority if you become ill. A little work now pays off with clarity and peace of mind.
With that in mind, let’s look at what to gather and how to make your first visit smooth and productive.
Key Documents and Information to Gather
Consider your preparation in five key areas: people, finances, debts, existing legal documents, and your goals. If something is missing, do not stress it. Bring what you can, and we will fill in the rest together.
Quick Reference Table, What to Bring and Why It Helps
| Category | Examples | Helpful to Bring |
| People | Spouse or partner, children, potential guardians, executors, trustees | Names, birth dates, contact info, relationship notes |
| Finances | Real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement, insurance, business interests | Recent summaries, account types, ownership, and beneficiary designations |
| Debts | Mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student loans, and taxes | Lender names, balances, payoff terms, and interest rates, if handy |
| Existing Documents | Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health directives, deeds | Copies of signed documents and any amendments |
| Goals | Gift timing, family concerns, charitable plans, end-of-life wishes | Written notes and questions you want answered |
Once you have a sense of the categories, gather the basics for each. The lists below will help you organize quickly.
Personal and Family Information
We start with who you are caring for and who you trust. Bring full legal names, dates of birth, and contact information for yourself, your spouse or partner, children, and anyone else you may name in the plan.
- Details on former spouses and any domestic partnerships.
- Names and contact info for potential guardians for minor children.
- Trusted people you are considering for roles like executor, trustee, or agent under a power of attorney.
If you are unsure about a role, we can discuss the pros and cons and arrange smart backups.
Financial Information
You do not need exact numbers for every account. A strong overview helps us size the plan and choose the right tools.
- Real estate, primary home, rentals, vacation homes, and investment property.
- Bank accounts, checking, savings, CDs, and money market accounts.
- Investments, brokerage accounts, stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.
- Retirement, 401(k), 403(b), IRAs, Roth IRAs, pensions, and beneficiary forms.
- Life insurance, policy type, owner, beneficiaries, and death benefit.
- Business interests, ownership percentages, entity type, and buy-sell agreements.
- Valuable personal property, art, jewelry, antiques, collectibles, and vehicles.
- Digital assets, cryptocurrency, domain names, online stores, and monetized accounts.
If you bring statements, the first page or a summary is usually enough for the first meeting.
List of Liabilities
What you owe matters as much as what you own. Please list each debt with the lender and an estimated balance.
- Mortgage information and home equity lines.
- Car loans or leases, credit card balances, and personal loans.
- Student loans, business debts, and tax obligations.
Knowing the debt picture helps us plan cash flow for your loved ones and avoid unwanted surprises.
Existing Estate Planning Documents
If you have done planning before, bring those papers so we can review what still works and what needs an update. Even older documents can be very helpful.
- Current wills or trusts, plus any amendments or restatements.
- Powers of attorney and health care directives or living wills.
- Property deeds, including any transfer-on-death features.
- Beneficiary designations for retirement accounts and insurance policies.
- Business succession plans and any prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
One missing beneficiary form can derail a plan, so we pay close attention to those designations.
Information About Special Circumstances
Some families need extra planning to protect a loved one or an asset. Brief notes are fine, and we will dig in together.
- Beneficiaries with special needs, addiction concerns, or money management issues.
- International assets or citizenship issues that could affect taxes or probate.
- Pets that will need care and funding for that care, through a simple pet trust.
- Unusual or complex assets, such as private equity, mineral rights, or IP.
- Anticipated inheritances that could change your plan within a few years.
Sharing these early helps us build flexible solutions that still keep things simple to manage.
Your Goals and Concerns
Your wishes drive the plan, not the other way around. Jot down what you want to happen and any concerns you would like us to address.
- Your top goals are avoiding probate, protecting a child’s share, or keeping a rental property in the family.
- Concerns about particular family members or dynamics that could lead to conflict.
- How and when beneficiaries should receive inheritances, all at once or over time.
- Charitable giving, either simple gifts or a fund with your family name.
- Questions about the process, fees, timelines, and signing steps.
- Preferences for end-of-life care and any funeral wishes you would like to have written down.
Bring your questions, even the small ones. We will cover them in plain English and set clear next steps.
Checklist for a Smooth Consultation
A short checklist keeps the first meeting clean and productive. You can print this or save it on your phone.
- Identification: bring a valid photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport.
- Beneficiary information, names, and contact details for your chosen recipients.
- Healthcare preferences, notes on medical wishes, and any existing advance directives or living wills for review.
- List of questions, anything about inheritance timing, guardians for minor children, or your long-term goals for the plan.
If something is missing, do not worry. We will still accomplish a great deal in the first meeting.
Estate Planning Considerations in California
California is a community property state, which often means a married couple owns most assets acquired during marriage together. Titling and beneficiary choices should reflect that, especially for real estate and retirement accounts.
The California Probate Code sets the rules for probate and trust administration. With the right plan, many families can avoid probate by establishing a properly funded revocable living trust.
California does not currently have its own estate or inheritance tax. Larger estates can still be subject to federal estate tax, so higher-net-worth families often weigh lifetime gifts, trust planning, and beneficiary designations with care.
Take the Next Step: Contact Us Today
If you are ready to protect your home, savings, and family, we would like to help you get started. Call us at 909-328-7000 to schedule your free consultation, or reach us through our Contact Us page.
At Price Law Firm, APC, we listen first, then build a plan that fits your life without extra fluff. We welcome your questions and will walk you through clear steps from the first call to the final signatures. Let’s protect what you have worked so hard to build, and make it easier on the people you love.
