Summary: A short estate planning checklist puts a handful of important decisions back in your hands: who would raise your children, who would manage your money, and who would speak for your medical care if you could not. This guide walks Nashville families through the five core documents, what each one lets you choose, and what Tennessee law asks of you.
Key Takeaways:
- Five core documents: Most family estate plans rest on five key pieces: a will, a trust, a financial power of attorney, an advance directive, and up-to-date beneficiary designations.
- The people matter most: Naming a guardian, an executor, and backup agents is the part of the plan only you can decide.
- Tennessee is friendly here: The state has no estate or inheritance tax, and a will generally needs your signature plus two independent, adult witnesses.
- A plan is for any family: This is about who decides and who is cared for, not the size of your bank account.
- Plans should grow with you: Marriage, a new child, or a move to Tennessee are all good reasons to revisit your checklist.
If you have children, a home, or savings of any kind, you already have an estate. An estate planning checklist is not about how much you own. It is about writing down, in your own words, who you trust and what you want for the people you love.
Most families simply never get around to it. Only about one in four American adults has a will, according to Caring.com’s 2025 Wills and Estate Planning Study. Working through a simple checklist is how you join that prepared group, one easy decision at a time.
Estate planning is one of the simplest ways to care for the people you love. At Hazard Law, we help Nashville families turn personal decisions into a clear plan, so your children, home, savings, and wishes are protected in the way you choose.
Why an Estate Planning Checklist Makes the Whole Process Easier
A checklist gives the conversation a starting point. Instead of trying to understand every document at once, you can begin with the basics: who should make decisions, who should receive property, and who should care for your children if you cannot.
It also helps you see what you already have. You may need to review beneficiary forms, check how your home is titled, gather account information, or decide whether a will, trust, power of attorney, or healthcare directive belongs in your plan.
You do not have to complete everything in one sitting. The value of a checklist is that it turns estate planning into a clear sequence, so each decision builds toward a plan that reflects your family and your wishes.
The Core Documents on Your Estate Planning Checklist
What documents do I need for an estate plan in Tennessee? Most family plans rest on five core documents: a last will and testament, a revocable living trust, a financial power of attorney, an advance directive for health care, and up-to-date beneficiary designations.
Keep a simple list of what you own alongside them, and you have covered the ground that matters for the typical Nashville household.
Walk through the five below, grouped so you can see what each one does.
1. Last Will and Testament
Your will is where you say who receives what, who settles your affairs as executor, and, if you have young children, who you would choose as their guardian. Naming a guardian yourself means the people you trust raise your children, rather than a court deciding among relatives. Under Tennessee’s rules for signing and witnessing a will, a typical will needs your signature and the signatures of two independent, adult witnesses to be valid.
2. Revocable LivingTrust
A revocable living trust holds your assets during your life and passes them to your family without going through probate court. It keeps things private, and it lets you set the terms, such as holding a child’s inheritance until they reach an age you choose. You stay in full control and can change it any time.
3. Financial Power of Attorney
This document lets you choose who manages money matters if you are ever unable to, from paying the mortgage to handling the bank. You decide whether that power starts right away or only if a doctor confirms you cannot manage on your own. It keeps your finances in trusted hands you picked.
4. Advance Directive and Healthcare Power of Attorney
An advance directive lets you name who speaks for your medical care and write down the treatment you would or would not want. Tennessee’s health care decisions law recognizes a combined form that covers both. Filling it out means your family is following your wishes, not guessing at them during a stressful moment.
5. Beneficiary Designations
Retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death bank accounts pass straight to the people you name, outside of your will. Review those names every few years so they still match your intentions. (It is easy to forget an old account from a first job.) Then jot down what you own and where the documents live, so the people you trust can find everything.
Will vs. Revocable Living Trust: Which Does Your Family Need
Most families wonder whether a will alone is enough or whether they also want a trust. Both move your assets to the people you love. They simply do it differently, and the right mix depends on your goals.
| Feature | Last Will and Testament | Revocable Living Trust |
|---|---|---|
| When it takes effect | After death | While you are living and after |
| Goes through probate | Yes, court supervised | No, for assets held in the trust |
| Privacy | Could become public record | Stays private |
| Control over timing | Limited | You can set when heirs receive assets |
| Typical effort and cost | Lower upfront | More setup, often less hassle later |
Plenty of young Nashville families start with a solid will. Many add a trust later, often when they buy property or want to set terms for a child’s inheritance. A short planning conversation can tell you which fits where you are right now.
The Personal Choices to Make Before You Draft Documents
The documents matter, but the decisions come first. Before anything is drafted, write down the people you trust for each role: who should raise your children, who should settle your estate, who should handle money decisions, and who should speak for your medical care.
For each role, choose a first choice and at least one backup. A backup matters because people move, relationships change, and the person who feels right today may not be available years from now. You can also make different choices for different jobs. The person who is wonderful with your children may not be the best person to manage accounts or paperwork.
This is also the place to write down personal guidance. For a guardian, that may include school, faith, family routines, or the relatives you want your children to stay close to. For an executor or agent, it may include where documents are kept, which professionals to contact, and what accounts or policies exist.
What to Gather Before You Start Your Estate Plan
A good checklist does more than name documents. It helps you gather the information your attorney will need to build the right plan. Start with a simple list of what you own, what you owe, and who is already named on your accounts.
Useful records may include:
- deeds, mortgage information, and property titles
- bank, investment, and retirement account details
- life insurance policies and beneficiary forms
- business interests or ownership agreements
- existing wills, trusts, powers of attorney, or healthcare documents
- names and contact details for the people you may appoint
- passwords, digital account notes, or instructions for where to find them
You do not need a perfect spreadsheet before you call an attorney. Even a rough list helps. It shows what should pass through a will, what may need a trust, what already has a beneficiary, and which parts of your plan need to be updated first.
Keeping Your Estate Planning Checklist Up to Date
When should I update my estate plan? Revisit your estate planning checklist after any major life change, and give it a quick read every three to five years, even when life is steady. A plan that fit you a decade ago may not match the family you have today.
A few moments that usually call for an update:
- Marriage, remarriage, or divorce
- A new child or grandchild
- A move to Tennessee, since witness rules differ by state
- A significant change in your assets or a new home
- The passing of someone you named as an agent or guardian
Updating is usually quick. You are adjusting a document you already have, not starting over.
Estate Planning Checklist FAQs for Nashville Families
Do I need a lawyer to make an estate plan in Tennessee?
You can write some documents yourself, but a Tennessee attorney helps your plan fit your family and meet state signing rules. Small mistakes, like a missing witness or an outdated beneficiary, can cause real problems later. A short review often costs less than families expect.
How many witnesses does a will need in Tennessee?
A typical Tennessee will needs your signature and the signatures of two independent, adult witnesses, with everyone signing in each other’s presence. A notary is not strictly required for the will itself, though a self-proving affidavit can make probate easier. Getting this step right keeps your will solid.
Can I write my own will in Tennessee?
Tennessee does recognize handwritten and witnessed wills, so a do-it-yourself will can be legally valid. The trouble is usually in the details: unclear wording, a missed signature, or terms that do not say what you meant. A quick attorney review catches those gaps before they matter.
What happens if you die without a will in Tennessee?
If there is no will, Tennessee’s inheritance laws your property, usually your spouse and children in set shares. A court also appoints someone to manage your estate and, if needed, a guardian for minor children. Writing a will keeps those choices yours.
Start Your Estate Planning Checklist with Hazard Law
The list that felt too big a few minutes ago is really just a handful of decisions, and you do not have to make them alone. You already know the people you trust and the family you want to look after. The documents simply put those choices in writing.
Hazard Law is focused on estate planning and probate, and we walk families through the estate planning checklist one decision at a time, in everyday terms. When you are ready to start, reach out for a first conversation, and we will help you take the first item off the list.
