How Prepared Is Your Family? The Estate Planning Readiness Score

🔧 TOOL: Estate Planning Readiness Scorecard

Score 1 point for each item that is TRUE for your family right now. Be honest — a low score isn't a failure, it's a roadmap.

#### LEGAL DOCUMENTS (5 points possible)

• ☐ (1 pt) Will exists — At least one adult in the household has a signed, current will
• ☐ (1 pt) Will is current — Updated within the last 5 years or after the most recent major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death, significant asset change)
• ☐ (1 pt) Healthcare directive exists — A living will and/or advance directive is signed for each adult
• ☐ (1 pt) Power of attorney (financial) is designated — A durable POA is signed and the agent knows they've been named
• ☐ (1 pt) Healthcare power of attorney is designated — A healthcare proxy is signed and the agent knows they've been named

Subtotal: _____ / 5

#### FINANCIAL ORGANIZATION (5 points possible)

• ☐ (1 pt) Financial snapshot exists — A document listing all accounts, institutions, policy numbers, and access methods
• ☐ (1 pt) Beneficiary designations are current — Reviewed within 2 years on all retirement accounts, life insurance, and POD/TOD accounts
• ☐ (1 pt) Life insurance is adequate — Coverage is 10-15x annual income for each income-earning adult with dependents
• ☐ (1 pt) Emergency fund exists — 3-6 months of expenses in accessible savings
• ☐ (1 pt) Someone else can pay your bills — At least one other person could manage household finances for 30 days using documented information

Subtotal: _____ / 5

#### DIGITAL ACCESS (3 points possible)

• ☐ (1 pt) Password manager with emergency access — A password manager is in use with a designated emergency contact or shared access method
• ☐ (1 pt) Phone passcodes documented — Someone besides you knows or can access your phone passcode
• ☐ (1 pt) Legacy contacts set up — Apple Legacy Contact, Google Inactive Account Manager, or equivalent activated on primary accounts

Subtotal: _____ / 3

#### FAMILY COMMUNICATION (4 points possible)

• ☐ (1 pt) Will location is known — At least one family member besides the will-maker knows where the will is stored
• ☐ (1 pt) Healthcare wishes discussed — You've had a conversation with your family about your medical preferences
• ☐ (1 pt) Care preferences discussed — You've discussed preferences for long-term care (home care vs. facility, location, values) with family
• ☐ (1 pt) Family emergency contact designated — One person is identified as the family's go-to in an emergency, and everyone knows who it is

Subtotal: _____ / 4

#### CARE & LOGISTICS (3 points possible)

• ☐ (1 pt) Emergency binder or equivalent exists — A document with essential contacts, accounts, medical info, and household operations
• ☐ (1 pt) Insurance coverage reviewed in last 12 months — All policies (health, life, home, auto, umbrella, disability) reviewed
• ☐ (1 pt) Children's guardianship designated — If you have minor children, a legal guardian is named in your will

Subtotal: _____ / 3

#### YOUR TOTAL SCORE: _____ / 20

#### Interpretation

0-4: Starting from scratch

You're not alone — this is where most families are. The good news: every point you add to this score is a crisis you've prevented. Start with three things: a will, a financial snapshot, and telling one person where to find both. See the will conversation guide to begin.

5-8: Foundation in place

You've done some of the basics, but there are meaningful gaps. Most commonly missing at this stage: power of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary review, and digital access planning. Focus on the legal documents category first — those have the highest impact.

9-13: Solidly prepared

You're ahead of most families. Your gaps are likely in digital access, family communication, or the care/logistics category. These are the items that feel less urgent but make the biggest difference during an actual crisis. The digital estate planning guide and emergency binder guide will close your remaining gaps.

14-17: Well prepared

You've done the work. Review and update what you have every 3-5 years, and share this assessment with the other adults in your family — your parents, your siblings, your adult children. Their preparedness affects you too.

18-20: Exceptional

You are in the top 1% of family preparedness. Keep it current, and consider helping others in your family get to your level. The greatest gift is making sure the people around you are prepared too.

#### Priority Action by Score Range

| Score | Do this first | Then this | Guide to read |

|-------|-------------|-----------|---------------|

| 0-4 | Create a will | Build a financial snapshot | The Will Conversation |

| 5-8 | Set up POA + healthcare directive | Review beneficiary designations | Power of Attorney |

| 9-13 | Set up digital legacy access | Build emergency binder | Digital Estate Planning |

| 14-17 | Share this with family members | Review + update all documents | The Family Emergency Binder |

| 18-20 | Help your parents score themselves | Annual review cycle | Managing Aging Parents |

Common Questions

What is an estate plan and do I need one?

An estate plan is the collection of legal documents, financial organization, and family communication that ensures your wishes are followed and your family is protected if you die or become incapacitated. Everyone over 18 needs at minimum a will, a healthcare directive, and a power of attorney — not just wealthy people. Without these documents, the courts make decisions about your assets, your medical care, and (if you have minor children) your children's guardianship.

How often should you update your estate plan?

Review your estate plan every 3-5 years and immediately after any major life event: marriage, divorce, birth or adoption, death of a named beneficiary or executor, significant change in assets, move to a new state (laws vary by state), or major tax law changes. Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance should be reviewed every 1-2 years, as these override your will and are the most commonly outdated element.

What This Looks Like When It's Working

The family with a score of 14+ doesn't think about estate planning anxiety — because there isn't any. The documents are signed and stored. The financial picture is documented. The digital access is set up. The family has had the conversations. When something happens — and eventually something will — the infrastructure is there. The grief is real, but the chaos is manageable.

Families at this level keep everything organized in one system — documents, contacts, scores, review dates, and family agreements. Kinstone is designed as that central system: a family hub where legal documents, financial records, care plans, and emergency information live together, accessible to everyone who needs them.