Estate planning can feel overwhelming because there are many moving parts.

The best way to start is with a simple checklist.

This checklist is not a replacement for professional advice. It is a starting point to help you understand what must be organised before you sit with an attorney, tax practitioner, fiduciary specialist, or financial adviser.

1. Your will

Check whether you have a valid, signed, updated will. If your family situation has changed, your will may need to be reviewed.

2. Your executor

Know who is nominated to handle your estate. Make sure the person or institution is appropriate, capable, and aware of the responsibility.

3. Your asset list

List your major assets, including property, vehicles, bank accounts, investments, retirement products, life policies, business interests, crypto assets, and valuable personal items.

4. Your debt list

List your home loan, vehicle finance, personal loans, credit cards, business debt, sureties, and any informal family loans.

5. Your beneficiaries

Review beneficiary nominations on policies, retirement funds, investments, and employment benefits. Make sure they match your wider plan.

6. Your estate costs

Estimate potential estate duty, executor fees, capital gains tax exposure, and other costs. Even a rough estimate is better than no estimate.

7. Your liquidity

Ask where cash will come from to settle costs. If your wealth is mostly in property or business assets, this is especially important.

8. Your business plan

If you own a business, document ownership, control, banking authority, key contracts, and succession intentions.

9. Your property plan

For property owners, check valuations, debt, rental income, ownership structure, and whether your family should keep or sell each property.

10. Your family communication

Make sure the right people know where important documents are kept and who to contact if something happens.

11. Your professional team

Keep contact details for your attorney, accountant, tax practitioner, financial adviser, insurance broker, and business adviser.

12. Your annual review

Review your plan at least once a year or after major life events such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, business growth, property purchase, or death in the family.

Estate planning is not one document. It is a system.

The stronger your system, the easier it becomes for your family to act when it matters.

Once your checklist is in place, make sure you understand why a will is only one part of the plan and what your family may need in the first 14 days after death.