"Hard-won shouldn't be easily lost."
Vickery Law PLLC
Welcome
Your Estate Planning Questionnaire
Thank you for choosing Vickery Law PLLC. This questionnaire is the first step in building an estate plan tailored to your life, your family, and what you've worked hard to protect.
This form collects the information we need to design a plan that is right for you. Please answer as completely as you can — there are no wrong answers, and you can note "unsure" or "to discuss" wherever you'd like guidance. Every response helps us make the best use of our time together.
Please note: Completing this questionnaire does not establish an attorney-client relationship. All information you share is held in strict confidence. Our office is located at 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, 10th Floor, Bethesda, MD — licensed in Maryland, D.C., and Washington State.
What Happens Next
After you complete and submit this form, here is what you can expect from Vickery Law:
1
ReviewWe review your responses and reach out to schedule next steps
2
Design SessionWe work through your plan together in depth
3
DraftingWe prepare all documents for your review and signature
4
DeliveryYou receive a complete signed estate plan folder and USB drive
This form should take approximately 20–30 minutes to complete. You may print or save a PDF at any time using your browser's print function.
Section 1 of 11
About You
Please provide your legal name exactly as it appears on government-issued identification. If you are married, you may enter your spouse or partner's information below — this helps us prepare one combined plan for both of you.
Primary Client
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Children
Please list all children — biological, adopted, and stepchildren — for both you and your spouse or partner. Include adult children as well as minors. This helps us understand who may be affected by your estate plan.
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Your Priorities
Please rate how important each of the following goals is to you. Your responses will guide the structure of your estate plan and the topics we focus on during our design session. There are no right or wrong answers — what matters most to you drives what we build.
Why this matters: Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. For example, a client who rates "protecting assets from creditors" as High will likely need a different structure than one focused primarily on charitable giving. Your priorities shape every decision we make together.
| Goal | Not a Priority | Low | Medium | High |
|---|
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Planning Questions
The following questions help us identify planning considerations that may affect how we structure your estate plan. Answer "Yes" or "No" — we'll discuss the details together.
Additional Topics
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Beneficiaries
A beneficiary is anyone who will receive something from your estate — whether through your will, a trust, a retirement account, a life insurance policy, or another asset. This section helps us identify the full picture of who you want to provide for.
Keep in mind: Beneficiary designations on accounts (like a 401(k) or life insurance policy) override what your will says. Part of good estate planning is making sure all of your designations are consistent and up to date. We will review this with you.
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Assets & Liabilities
Please share what you're comfortable with at this stage. Exact values are helpful but not required right now — we're primarily looking to understand the overall size and composition of your estate. You can add more detail later. Enter approximate current values.
Why we ask: The structure of your estate plan — whether a simple will is sufficient or whether a revocable living trust makes sense — often depends on the size and type of your assets, how they are titled, and where they are located. This helps us make the right recommendation for your situation.
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Your Advisors
Please list any financial, tax, or other professional advisors you currently work with. We may want to coordinate with them on certain aspects of your estate plan — for example, ensuring your beneficiary designations align with your overall financial strategy.
Why this matters: A good estate plan works alongside your other advisors — your CPA, financial planner, insurance agent, and others. Knowing who is on your team allows us to identify any coordination needed and avoid conflicts between your plan documents and your account designations.
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Your Team: Who Speaks for You
One of the most important decisions in estate planning is choosing the right people to act on your behalf — both during your lifetime and after your death. This section helps us identify who you trust for each of these roles.
A note on naming people: For each role, please name a primary person and two alternates — in case your first or second choice is unable or unwilling to serve when the time comes. We will finalize and confirm all role assignments during your design session. For now, share your initial thinking.
Trustee
If you create a trust, your Trustee manages and distributes assets according to the trust's instructions — both during your lifetime (if you become incapacitated) and after your death. Most married clients name their spouse as the first trustee, with a trusted family member or professional as the alternate.
Primary
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
Personal Representative (Executor)
Your Personal Representative (also called an Executor) is responsible for settling your estate after your death — filing your final tax return, paying any debts, and distributing property according to your will. This person should be organized, trustworthy, and willing to handle some paperwork.
Primary
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
Agent — General Durable Power of Attorney (Financial)
Your Agent under a Durable Power of Attorney handles your financial affairs if you become unable to do so yourself — paying bills, managing accounts, filing taxes, and making financial decisions on your behalf. This document is effective during your lifetime only.
Primary
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
Health Care Agent — Advance Health Care Directive
Your Health Care Agent makes medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot make them yourself. This person should know your values and wishes well. Your Advance Health Care Directive also allows you to express your preferences regarding life-sustaining treatment, organ donation, and other medical care.
Primary
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
HIPAA Authorization — Access to Medical Information
A HIPAA Authorization allows designated individuals to receive information about your medical condition from healthcare providers — even if they are not your formal health care agent. This is useful for family members who may need to stay informed without necessarily making decisions.
Person 1
Person 2
Person 3
Guardian for Minor Children (if applicable)
If you have minor children, your Guardian would raise them in the event both parents are gone. This is often the most emotionally significant decision in estate planning. The guardian does not need to be the same person who manages the money (that would be the trustee).
Primary
Alternate 1
Alternate 2
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Existing Documents
If you have any previously signed estate planning documents — even older ones that may need updating — please note them here. Reviewing what you already have helps us understand where you are starting from and avoid duplicating or contradicting any existing arrangements.
What to include: Any document you signed relating to your estate, finances, or health care — such as a prior will, a trust agreement, a power of attorney, a health care directive, or a living will. You do not need to track down copies right now — just let us know what you recall having.
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Contact Details
Please verify and complete contact information for yourself and for the key people you've mentioned throughout this questionnaire. Accurate contact details allow us to prepare documents correctly and reach the right people when needed.
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Next Steps
You have completed your Vickery Law Estate Planning Questionnaire. Here is what happens from here.
1
We ReviewVickery Law will review your responses and reach out to schedule either a consultation or a design session
2
Design SessionWe work closely with you to finalize every major decision in your plan — you'll receive a written summary to confirm
3
Drafting & ReviewWe draft, review, and prepare all of your documents for signing
4
Signing & DeliveryWe meet to sign and you leave with a complete estate plan folder and USB drive
Questions before we meet? You can reach Vickery Law PLLC at our Bethesda office — 7200 Wisconsin Avenue, 10th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814. We look forward to working with you.
Submitting sends your responses securely to Vickery Law. You may also print or save a PDF copy for your records before submitting.