Effective July 1, 2026, German Law in Grand Forks, ND merged with Thompson Law in Sioux Falls, SD. Going forward, both offices will be under the Thompson Law name and continue to serve their clients and communities with excellence.
North Dakota Estate Planning Worksheet - Thompson Law, PLLC

Thompson Law, PLLC

Estate & Business Planning Attorneys in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls

605-362-9100

Grand Forks

701-738-0060
Estate Planning Attorneys Licensed in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, and Nebraska

North Dakota Estate Planning Worksheet

Preparing for an initial consultation with a North Dakota estate planning attorney becomes far more productive when you take time to reflect on your goals, assets, and concerns in advance. Estate planning is not limited to drafting documents. It is a thoughtful process that involves clarifying your wishes, identifying the people you trust, and organizing essential financial and personal information. To help you properly prepare, the estate planning attorneys at the Thompson Law have put together the following worksheet designed to help you gather relevant details and consider important decisions before your first estate planning appointment. If you have additional questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our office to schedule an appointment.

  • What are your primary goals for your estate plan? Consider whether your focus is on providing for minor children, protecting a spouse, minimizing taxes, avoiding probate, supporting charitable causes, planning for incapacity, or preserving family harmony.
  • What is your current marital status, and have you ever been married before? If you are married, remarried, divorced, or widowed, your attorney will need to understand how prior relationships may affect inheritance rights, beneficiary designations, or obligations to former spouses.
  • Do you have children or other dependents? List their full legal names and dates of birth. Indicate whether any are minors, have special needs, struggle with financial management, or depend on you for ongoing support.
  • If you have minor children, who would you want to serve as their guardian if you were unable to care for them? Reflect on both first and alternate choices. Consider the individual’s values, location, parenting style, financial stability, and willingness to serve.
  • Who would you trust to manage your financial affairs if you became incapacitated? This person may serve as your agent under a financial Power of Attorney. Think about responsibility, financial competence, and the ability to act in your best interests.
  • Who would you want to make medical decisions for you if you were unable to communicate? In North Dakota, you may execute a health care directive naming a health care agent. Consider someone who understands your values and can advocate effectively with medical providers.
  • What are your general preferences regarding end-of-life medical treatment? Reflect on life-sustaining treatment, artificial nutrition and hydration, pain management, and organ donation. Clarifying your wishes now can prevent uncertainty for loved ones later.
  • What assets do you own, and how are they titled? Prepare a list that includes real estate, bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement plans, business interests, vehicles, valuable personal property, and digital assets. Indicate whether assets are owned individually, jointly, or in a trust.
  • Do you have beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance policies, or payable-on-death accounts? Review whether those designations reflect your current wishes. Beneficiary designations typically override instructions in a Will.
  • Do you own real estate in North Dakota or in other states? Property located outside North Dakota may require additional planning to avoid multiple probate proceedings. Provide addresses and approximate values if possible.
  • Do you own a closely held business or have an ownership interest in a partnership, limited liability company, or corporation? Consider succession planning. Identify who should manage or inherit your business interest and whether there are existing buy-sell agreements.
  • Do you anticipate leaving unequal distributions among beneficiaries? If you intend to provide different amounts to different individuals, consider your reasons and whether you wish to explain those decisions in a letter of instruction.
  • Are any of your intended beneficiaries receiving public benefits or facing creditor issues?
    Special planning tools, such as special needs trusts or spendthrift provisions, may help protect inheritances from disrupting benefits or being claimed by creditors.
  • Are you interested in minimizing estate taxes or income taxes for your beneficiaries?
    While North Dakota does not impose a state estate tax, federal estate tax considerations may apply depending on the size of your estate. Your attorney can assess whether tax planning strategies are necessary.
  • Do you wish to incorporate charitable giving into your estate plan? Identify organizations or causes that are meaningful to you. Consider whether you prefer an outright bequest, a charitable trust, or the creation of a donor-advised fund.
  • Do you have specific items of sentimental or significant value that you want to pass to particular individuals? List heirlooms, family property, collectibles, or other personal effects. Clarifying these wishes in advance can reduce conflict among family members.
  • Have you previously created any estate planning documents? Bring copies of existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, health care directives, prenuptial or postnuptial agreements, and beneficiary designation forms. Your attorney must review these to determine whether updates are necessary.
  • Do you have digital assets or online accounts that require management after your death or incapacity? Consider email accounts, social media profiles, online banking, cryptocurrency, subscription services, and cloud storage. Think about who should have access and how credentials will be stored securely.
  • Who would you want to serve as the personal representative of your estate? This individual will administer your estate through the probate process if required. Select someone who is organized, trustworthy, and capable of handling legal and financial responsibilities.
  • What concerns do you have about family dynamics or potential disputes? Openly acknowledging possible areas of conflict allows your attorney to recommend strategies that promote clarity and reduce the likelihood of litigation.

Contact Us

For additional information relating to estate planning, contact an estate planning attorney at Thompson Law by calling (701) 738-0060 to schedule an appointment.