Estate Readiness Checklist

Your Will Could Be Valid — And Still Leave Gaps.

Imagine you have a perfectly valid Will.

Your wishes are clearly documented. Your beneficiaries are named. Your witnesses have signed.

Everything is in order.

But then your family has to administer the estate.

There are assets to value.

There may be tax consequences.

There may be executor costs.

There may be debts.

There may be property that needs to be transferred.

There may be a business that needs to continue operating.

And there may be children who still depend on the estate.

This highlights an important distinction:

A Will is not the same thing as an estate plan.

Your Will expresses your wishes. Your financial plan should help ensure those wishes can actually be implemented.

That means reviewing questions such as:

1. Estate liquidity
Will there be sufficient accessible capital to meet legitimate estate expenses?

2. Tax exposure
Could Estate Duty or Capital Gains Tax affect the value transferred to your beneficiaries?

3. Beneficiary nominations
Do your policies and investments still reflect your intended beneficiaries?

4. Family protection
If children are minors, have appropriate arrangements been considered?

5. Business continuity
What happens to your business interests if you die unexpectedly?

6. Property
Can your family afford to retain the family home or other property?

These are not simply legal questions.

They are financial planning questions.

That's why your Will should be reviewed as part of your broader financial plan — particularly after major life events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, acquiring a business or buying significant assets.

We've created a Downloadable Estate Readiness Checklist to help you identify the areas that may need attention.

This article provides general information and is not legal or tax advice.