An estate planning inventory helps you record which documents exist, where they are securely stored and which questions need professional attention. It does not create a legally effective will, nomination or power of attorney, and does not determine who is legally entitled to assets.

What to record

List document type, date, status and the appropriate professional or issuing organisation to contact. Record review tasks after relevant changes. Keep identity numbers, private beneficiary details and confidential documents out of a general shareable recap.

A practical example

An inventory entry can say 'nomination status: to verify with issuing organisation; next action: request current record'. Do not mark it complete merely because you remember filling in a form years ago. Check the official process for each distinct document.

Build and check your own record

  1. Gather the relevant original records and note their dates. Decide what this summary is for and who, if anyone, needs to receive it.
  2. Open the tool and use minimal, non-sensitive descriptions. Enter only figures you can explain, mark estimates clearly and leave missing information as unknown.
  3. Compare the preview with the sources. Check units, dates and totals, and correct any misleading label before exporting. A generated layout does not verify the inputs.

Keep the original documents

Store the summary securely and review it when its source information changes. Keep important decisions, official notices and professional recommendations in their original records. Ask a qualified professional about suitability, tax treatment or legal effect where needed.

Official reading: MoneySense: legacy planning. Check the current guidance and the requirements applying to your situation.