E249 Annual Professional Executor Checklist

<p>When you name me as your professional executor or trustee, we have an annual “check-in” call or email to make sure I’m up to date on your plan and wishes.</p> <p>We’ll review below what we chat about during our annual check-in.</p> <p>But first, why annually? As your executor and potential witness if your will is contested, it’s useful for me to be familiar not just with a <strong><em>snapshot</em></strong> of your wishes upon your death, but the <strong><em>trajectory</em></strong> of your wishes.</p> <p>For example, it helps me to track that year after year your niece was gaining your favor. Maybe she only made phone calls in the beginning, then she sent Christmas cards to you, and ultimately, she finally started visiting you. At each annual check-in, you talk about her more and more. On the flip side, if every year you report the same thing about your niece and she contests your will, then I’ll know what that relationship was like if I have to testify in court.</p> <h2>1. Are you alive?</h2> <p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41497" src= "https://anthonyspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Are-you-alive-300x169.jpg" alt="Are you alive?" width="300" height="169" /></p> <p>If you answer our check in call each year, then we’ll know you're alive! Of course, we care more than whether you are dead or alive. We’ll ask about your health and check to see if there are any signs of capacity issues. For example, are you becoming frailer each year? Perhaps you might need a trust or other sort of estate planning advice.</p> <h2>2. Does your plan still reflect your wishes?</h2> <p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-41498" src= "https://anthonyspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Does-your-plan-still-reflect-your-wishes-300x169.jpg" alt="Does your plan still reflect your wishes?" width="300" height= "169" /></p> <p>Does your plan still reflect who you want as your beneficiaries? Are any of your beneficiaries dead or incapacitated since we chatted last? Perhaps there is now someone you would like to c