Estate Due Diligence Preparation
A simple, step-by-step checklist to get organized before you complete the Online Secure Trust Estate Due Diligence Application.
Estate due diligence preparation is the fastest way to complete the Online Secure Trust Estate Due Diligence Application without stopping. Use this estate due diligence preparation checklist to gather your documents first, reduce follow-up questions, and finish the form with confidence.
Hot topics covered: estate due diligence preparation, estate planning checklist, trust application checklist, trust indenture intake, beneficiary schedule, asset inventory checklist, real estate document checklist, power of attorney documents, living will and advance directive documents, health care surrogate, executor preparation checklist.
Plain-English goal: This estate due diligence preparation step builds a clear picture of (1) who the key people are, (2) what you own, (3) what you owe, and (4) what you want to happen. That is what “due diligence” means here.
Why estate due diligence preparation pays off later
Many people feel overwhelmed when looking at a stack of documents or the idea of gathering everything for due diligence. Once you do this work, you will have a complete, organized snapshot of your financial life that a trustee, attorney, family member, or beneficiary can understand. Instead of a one-time chore, estate due diligence preparation becomes a long-term asset that saves time and reduces stress.
Clarity and confidence
The estate due diligence preparation process forces you to answer simple questions like “Who are my key decision-makers?” and “What do I own?” When this information is collected and organized, you are less likely to miss something important. You will know exactly what you need to finish the application and move forward.
Once it is organized, it stays useful
Think of estate due diligence preparation as building a reusable dashboard. Rather than papers scattered across email and filing cabinets, everything is scanned, labeled, and grouped so you can find it quickly for a trust update, tax preparation, loan application, or family conversation.
Protect your digital life
As part of your estate file, use a secure password vault to store login credentials and access keys for online accounts. Avoid sticky notes and spreadsheets. A password vault combined with organized documents helps your chosen fiduciaries access what they need while keeping your information protected.
Helpful outbound resources
- Social Security card replacement and information (SSA)
- Get an IRS tax transcript (IRS)
- Identity theft recovery steps (FTC)
Educational note: DSCEU provides education and due diligence intake support. Engage qualified counsel and tax professionals for jurisdiction-specific legal or tax advice.
Estate due diligence preparation checklist
What this Online Secure Trust Estate Due Diligence Application does (plain English):
- Collects facts needed to prepare trust and estate planning documents (first drafts).
- Organizes beneficiaries and property schedules so documents match what you actually own.
- Creates an audit trail using electronic signature + date/time + IP capture.
- Supports document uploads at the right step, so records stay attached to the correct section of your intake.
Before you click “Apply,” do this first (10 minutes):
- Set aside 30 to 60 minutes (longer if you have multiple properties, a business, or many accounts).
- Create one folder on your computer called: Estate_Due_Diligence.
- Create subfolders (copy and paste from the list below).
- Put every file you plan to upload into one of those folders first.
Folder names (copy and paste):
Estate_Due_Diligence 1_ID 2_Legal 3_Bank_Accounts 4_Real_Estate 5_Insurance 6_Retirement 7_Debts 8_Business 9_Assets_Other
Simple file naming (copy and paste format):
- Format: Last_First_DocumentType_Date
- Examples (copy and paste and edit):
Last_First_ID_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_Trust_or_Will_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_POA_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_AdvanceDirective_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_BankStatement_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_BrokerageStatement_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_401k_or_IRA_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_LifeInsurancePolicy_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_Deed_StreetAddress_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_MortgageStatement_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_PropertyTax_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_HomeownersInsurance_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_CreditCardStatement_YYYY-MM.pdf Last_First_VehicleTitle_VIN_YYYY-MM.pdf
Quick tip: If a document is paper-only, take a clear photo or scan it into a PDF before you start. Combine multi-page papers into one PDF whenever possible.
Fast reality check: If you can answer these 5 questions, you are already organized for estate due diligence preparation:
- Who are my trustee and successor trustee?
- Who are my beneficiaries (and how should shares be divided)?
- What real estate do I own (addresses + mortgage info)?
- What bank, brokerage, and retirement accounts do I have?
- What debts do I owe (mortgage, loans, credit cards)?
Estate due diligence preparation documents to gather
1) Identity documents (have these ready)
- Driver license or passport (Grantor/Trustor/Settlor and Trustee).
- Social Security card or official SSN record (only if requested in the form).
- Birth certificate (if available), marriage certificate, divorce decree (if applicable).
- Primary contact info: your phone number, email, and current address.
2) Legal documents (even if they are “old”)
- Existing trust documents (if any).
- Existing will (if any).
- Durable power of attorney (financial) (if any).
- Living will / advance directive (if any).
- Health care surrogate / health care proxy (if any).
- Any court orders that affect assets or guardianship (if applicable).
3) Asset inventory documents (what you own)
- Bank accounts: latest 1 to 2 statements (checking/savings) and the bank name/branch.
- Brokerage accounts: latest statement (stocks, ETFs, bonds).
- Retirement: latest statement (401(k), IRA, pension) + beneficiary designation pages if available.
- Life insurance: declarations/policy page (policy number + beneficiaries).
- Vehicles: title/registration + VIN (car/boat/motorcycle).
- Business interests: LLC/Corp paperwork + ownership records if you own a business.
- Notes you hold or owe: promissory notes, private lending notes, payment schedules.
- Digital assets: list of key accounts (email, cloud storage, crypto exchanges) + where passwords/keys are stored.
4) Debt inventory documents (what you owe)
- Mortgage statements and payoff info (if available).
- HELOC statements and other loan statements.
- Credit card statements (most recent is fine).
- Property tax bills and insurance declaration pages.
5) Real estate documents (if you own property)
- Deed (or closing statement) for each property.
- Current mortgage statement and monthly payment amount.
- Property tax bill and homeowners insurance declarations.
- If the property is rented: lease agreements and proof of rental income (optional but helpful).
6) Business / SPV documents (if you own an LLC or company)
- Operating agreement, shareholder/member ledger, formation documents.
- EIN letter (if available), business bank account info, and signatory authority.
- Key contracts, contract rights, receivables, notes, bonds, mortgages, and account documentation you want included in schedules.
7) Beneficiaries (the part most people forget)
- Full legal names of each beneficiary.
- Current mailing address for each beneficiary (needed for clean drafting).
- Your intended split (percent or units). Write it out before you start.
- If a beneficiary is a minor: note the parent/guardian name and location (if applicable).
Estate due diligence preparation examples
- If you own a home: deed + mortgage statement + property tax bill + insurance declarations.
- If you have retirement accounts: latest statement + beneficiary designations (important for non-probate assets).
- If you have life insurance: policy/declarations page + beneficiary list.
- If you own a vehicle: title/registration + VIN.
- If you have a safe deposit box: bank name + branch + where the key is stored (and who else has access).
- If you run a business: operating agreement + owner ledger + business bank statement + key contracts.
Important: If you are preparing for an estate of someone who passed away, it is common to obtain multiple certified death certificates for banks, insurance companies, and real estate transfers.
Estate due diligence preparation uploads
Upload size guidance: scan at about 150 DPI, use black-and-white when possible, and combine multi-page documents into one PDF. This helps stay under WordPress upload limits.
- Upload Step A: Identity (recommended placement: after Grantor and Trustee identity sections)
- ID (driver license/passport) for Grantor and Trustee
- Any supporting proof needed for address or identity (if applicable)
- Upload Step B: Existing Legal Documents (recommended placement: after “Trust Instrument Information”)
- Existing trust or will (if any)
- Existing POA, living will / advance directive, health care surrogate (if any)
- Marriage/divorce documents (if relevant)
- Any court orders that affect assets/guardianship (if applicable)
- Upload Step C: Assets / Property / Real Estate / Business (recommended placement: after “Property Schedule (Merge-Ready)” and/or “Real Estate Owned”)
- Deeds, mortgage statements, property tax bills, insurance declarations
- Bank/brokerage/retirement statements
- Titles, VIN documentation, UCC or lien documentation (if any)
- Contracts, notes, bonds, mortgages, and account documentation (if you want them scheduled)
- Business ownership records and key agreements (if applicable)
Recommended upload settings: Max 10 files per upload field, Max 20MB per file, types: pdf, doc, docx, jpg, jpeg, png. If WordPress maximum upload is lower, match WordPress.
Important: Your upload fields should be configured so applicants can attach the most important paperwork without exceeding limits. Keep scanned PDFs small and clear.
Estate due diligence preparation file naming
- Format: Last_First_DocumentType_Date
- Examples: Smith_Jane_Deed_123MainSt.pdf • Smith_Jane_Mortgage_2026-01.pdf • Smith_Jane_POA.pdf
- If you upload multiple statements, label them: BankStatement_2025-12.pdf, Brokerage_2025-Q4.pdf.
- If you have multiple properties, add the address or nickname: Deed_RentalHouse.pdf, Mortgage_MainHome.pdf.
Start the Online Secure Trust Estate Application
When you are ready, complete the application below. If you need time to gather documents, use the “Save and Continue Later” option. Estate due diligence preparation makes this step much faster.
Organized Documents = Faster Drafts
Estate due diligence preparation works best when you have ID, existing legal documents (if any), asset statements, real estate paperwork, and beneficiary information ready before you start the online trust estate application.
Due Diligence Intake Tools
All applications are due diligence intake tools that help collect the details and wishes that support the purpose of a trust and related documentation.
