What to Bring to Your First Estate Planning Meeting in Cooper City
A little preparation before your first estate planning meeting saves time and helps your attorney give you better advice. Here is exactly what to gather and what decisions to think through in advance.
Quick Answer
For your first estate planning meeting in Florida, bring a list of your assets (real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests) with approximate values and how each is titled. Bring copies of any existing estate planning documents — wills, trusts, powers of attorney — especially if they were done in another state. Have the names, ages, and contact information for the people you want to name as beneficiaries, personal representative, trustee, and healthcare surrogate. Most importantly, think through your goals: who should receive your assets, who should manage your affairs if you cannot, and who should raise your children if you have minor ones. You do not need to have all the answers — that is what the meeting is for — but having the basic facts organized saves significant time and helps your attorney tailor the plan to your situation.
Your first estate planning meeting is a working session, not a sales presentation. The more prepared you are, the more your attorney can accomplish — and the fewer follow-up calls you will need before your documents are ready.
Here is exactly what to bring and what to think through in advance.
Documents to Gather
Property and real estate:
Financial accounts:
Insurance:
Business interests:
Existing estate planning documents:
Other:
Decisions to Think Through in Advance
You do not need to have final answers to all of these. But having thought them through — even roughly — makes the meeting much more productive.
Who should receive your assets?
Who should manage your affairs if you cannot?
For each role, think about a primary person and a backup in case your first choice cannot serve.
If you have minor children:
Florida-specific questions to consider:
What You Do Not Need to Bring
- You do not need to have exact dollar amounts for every account — approximate values are fine for the initial meeting
- You do not need to have made all your decisions — part of the meeting is working through options
- You do not need to bring original documents — copies or photos are sufficient for the consultation
What Happens at the Meeting
At Mark Mastrarrigo P.A., the initial consultation covers:
1. Review of your current situation and goals 2. Explanation of which documents you need and why 3. Discussion of Florida-specific considerations for your situation 4. Flat-fee pricing for your plan — provided at the consultation, before any work begins 5. Timeline for completion — a basic plan typically takes 2–4 weeks from consultation to signed documents
There is no obligation at the initial consultation. Contact our Cooper City office to schedule your appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both spouses need to attend the first meeting? Ideally yes. Estate plans for married couples are designed to work together — having both spouses present avoids mismatches and reduces the number of follow-up questions.
How long does the first meeting take? Typically 45–90 minutes depending on the complexity of your situation.
What if I do not have all my documents organized yet? Bring what you have. Your attorney can identify what additional information is needed and follow up with you. Do not postpone the meeting because you cannot locate every document.
Can I do the meeting by phone or video? Yes. Mark Mastrarrigo P.A. offers phone and video consultations for clients throughout Broward County who cannot come to the Cooper City office in person.
How much will my estate plan cost? All estate planning services at Mark Mastrarrigo P.A. are flat-fee — you will receive the fee for your specific plan at the consultation before any work begins. A basic plan (will, durable power of attorney, healthcare surrogate, living will) typically runs $500–$1,500. A trust-based plan runs $2,500–$5,000 depending on complexity.
Contact our Cooper City office at (954) 820-8535 to schedule your first estate planning meeting.