Your credit union, together with Gentreo, is here to help make estate planning simple, affordable, and secure for every family.

This worksheet is designed as a conversation starter for families. It is not legal advice. Print it out, bring it to the table, and check things off together. You don’t have to finish everything at once, simply making progress can be a gift.

A Bit More About Gentreo

Gentreo is the Life Milestone company, created to make estate planning simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone. Gentreo provides an all-in-one platform where families can create any or all essential documents like wills, living trusts, health care proxies, powers of attorney, and pet protections without hassle or hidden costs.

At the heart of Gentreo is the Digital Vault, a secure place where you can safely store and share your documents, and important information with loved ones. From everyday health care decisions to long-term legacy planning, Gentreo helps ensure that your wishes are known, your family is protected, and your plans can be updated anytime.

This worksheet is not legal advice. It is designed to help you start those important conversations about estate planning in a simple, step-by-step way. If you feel that you need legal advice, please contact an estate planning attorney.

Use the questions under each section to guide discussions, and write down answers or notes so nothing gets lost. You don’t need to finish everything in one sitting—just making progress can be a gift.

First let’s start with the estate planning documents used while you are alive:

Health Care Proxies & Advance Directives

A Health Care Proxy (sometimes called a medical power of attorney) names the person(s) you trust to make medical decisions if you can’t.

The following documents are included in a Gentreo Health Care Proxy: Health Care Proxy, Advance Directive, Living Will, HIPAA & Medical Directions.

• An Advance Directive outlines your health care preferences in general.
• A Living Will is a specific written statement of the medical treatments you would or would not want if you were seriously ill or near the end of life.
• A HIPAA Authorization gives your chosen person access to your private medical records so they can speak with doctors and understand your condition.
• Medical Directions (sometimes included in or alongside an advance directive) are your specific instructions for care—such as resuscitation orders, ventilator use, or pain management—so your wishes are respected.

With Gentreo, all of these protections—Health Care Proxy, Advance Directive, Living Will, HIPAA Authorization, and Medical Directions—are included together in one easy-to-complete Health Care Proxy document.

Health Care Proxies & Advance Directives

☐ I have a health care proxy (in some states known as a health care power of attorney) and it is current (typically less than 2 years old).

☐ My proxy (the person who I have named to make decisions for me) understands my wishes.

☐ My documents are safely stored and shared (ex: Gentreo Digital Vault).

Ask Each Other:

• Who is your health care proxy?
• Do they know your wishes? What are your wishes?
• Have you documented preferences like life support or organ donation?

Financial Power of Attorney

A Financial Power of Attorney authorizes the person you choose—called your “agent”—to handle your financial matters if you are unable to do so. This can include paying bills, managing bank accounts, overseeing investments, or handling property transactions. Because this role carries so much responsibility, it is essential that you choose someone you trust implicitly.

There are different types of Powers of Attorney you can create:

• Durable Power of Attorney – Ensures your agent’s authority continues if you become incapacitated.
• General Financial Authority – Allows your agent to manage everyday finances, such as banking, bill payments, and insurance matters.
• Limited Powers (Optional) – Lets you restrict your agent’s authority to only certain tasks or time if you prefer.
• Successor Agents – Lets you name backups in case your first choice cannot serve.

With Gentreo, you can create a document with the protections you choose, giving you peace of mind that your finances will be managed responsibly and according to your wishes.

Financial Power of Attorney

☐ My financial power of attorney is complete and it has been created recently.

☐ My agent understands their role.

☐ My family knows how to access accounts if needed.

☐ My documents are securely stored and shared. (For instance, you may want to share a copy with your financial institution.)

Ask Each Other:

• Do you have a financial power of attorney? Is it up to date?
• If you don’t have one, who would you trust to manage finances for you?
• Does your chosen person know where your accounts are?

Important Documents, Information & the Gentreo Digital Vault

Important documents can include but are not limited to insurance policies, deeds, bank records, account details, and even passwords. Having these in one place prevents loved ones from scrambling during a crisis. The Gentreo Digital Vault provides a secure way to store, organize, and share this information so your family has what they need, when they need it.

☐ My important documents (insurance, deeds, account info) are gathered in one spot.

☐ My digital accounts and passwords are recorded in a place where someone I trust implicitly can find them if I am incapacitated or have passed away.

☐ Everything is stored in the Gentreo Digital Vault or in another location I trust.

☐ Access is shared with and only trusted family members or friends.

Ask Each Other:

• Do we know where key documents are stored?
• Who should have access to these files in an emergency?
• Are online accounts and passwords somewhere they can be found and yet are secure?

Pets

Pets are family too, and planning for their future ensures they are cared for if something happens to you. A pet trust or pet care plan names a caregiver, outlines feeding and medical routines, and can even set aside funds for their ongoing needs.

☐ A caregiver is named.

☐ Care instructions are written.

☐ A pet trust or care plan is set up.

☐ Pet-related documents are stored and shared securely.

Ask Each Other:

• Who would care for your pets?
• Do they know routines, food, and medications? Do they know who the pets’ vets are?
• Are resources set aside for their care?

Living Trusts

A Living Trust is a legal arrangement you create while you are alive. It allows you to transfer ownership of your assets such as your home, bank accounts, or investments into the trust during your lifetime. It takes effect while you’re living. You can manage and use your assets as usual, but the trust also remains valid after you pass away.

A living trust helps your family avoid the delays, costs, and stress of probate court. It ensures your assets are passed directly to your chosen beneficiaries quickly and privately, while keeping your wishes clear and legally enforceable.

☐ I’ve decided whether a trust is right for me.

☐ Trustees and successors are named.

☐ Assets are titled correctly in the trust.

☐ I have named the trust as the owner of my assets.

☐ Trust documents are stored securely and shared with trusted individuals.

Ask Each Other:

• Would a trust help simplify things for your family?
• Who would serve as trustee?
• Are assets properly set up in the trust?

Documents and Information for After You Pass Away

Up to this point, we’ve focused on documents that can protect you and your family while you are alive—like health care proxies, financial powers of attorney, and living trusts. These are documents that can be essential for ensuring that your wishes are respected and your affairs are managed smoothly during your lifetime.

The next part of this worksheet turns to the plans, documents, and information that take effect after you pass away. These include naming beneficiaries, planning your funeral or memorial, and recording your legacy wishes. Taking the time to document these details now spares your loved ones from guesswork and ensures your values, traditions, and assets are passed on the way you intend.

Wills

A will is a legal document that explains how you want your money, property, and possessions to be distributed after you pass. It can also name guardians for minor children. Without a will, state law decides for you, which may not reflect your wishes.

☐ I have a current will.

☐ Guardians for children are named.

☐ Digital assets are included.

☐ My family knows where to find it.

☐ It’s stored safely (ex: Digital Vault).

Ask Each Other:

• Do you have a will?
• When did you last update it?
• Does it include guardianship and digital assets?

Beneficiaries

Beneficiaries are the people or organizations you designate to receive assets like life insurance, retirement accounts, or bank accounts. These designations often override what’s written in your will or trust, making it critical to review them regularly.

☐ All beneficiary designations are reviewed.

☐ They reflect my current wishes.

☐ Records are stored so people know where to find documents when the time comes.

Ask Each Other:

• Have you updated beneficiaries after marriage, divorce, or new children?
• Do your designations match your current choices and how you set up your will and other documents?

Funeral Planning

Funeral planning allows you to record how you want to be remembered, whether burial, cremation, or another choice, and include details like songs, readings, or traditions. Storing this in your Gentreo Digital Vault spares loved ones from making difficult decisions during a time of grief.

☐ My funeral or memorial preferences are written and my loved ones can find those choices.

☐ If you have funeral insurance, your family knows where to find the policy information and knows what to do in order to access the funds.

☐ Burial, cremation, or other choices are noted.

☐ Special songs, readings, or traditions are included.

☐ All details are stored in the Gentreo Digital Vault.

Ask Each Other:

• How would you like to be remembered?
• Do you prefer burial, cremation, or something else?
• Are there songs, readings, or traditions you want included?
• Do loved ones know where your instructions are stored?

Legacy Wishes

Legacy wishes capture the traditions, stories, and values you want to pass on to future generations. They’re not legal documents, but they ensure your family understands what matters most to you and how you want your life to be celebrated.

☐ I’ve shared family stories or traditions.

☐ I’ve recorded legacy wishes.

☐ Loved ones know what matters most to me.

Ask Each Other:

• What family traditions should carry on?
• What stories should be passed down?
• How do you want to be remembered?

Annual Review

Estate planning is not one-and-done. An annual review helps ensure your documents reflect any major life changes such as marriage, divorce, a new child, or a move. Setting aside time each year keeps your plan current and reliable.

☐ I’ve set a review date.

☐ My plan reflects recent life changes.

☐ Our family will revisit this each holiday season.

Ask Each Other:

• When did you last update your plan?
• What life changes (marriage, divorce, new child, move) might require us to update our plan?
• Should this conversation become a family holiday tradition? (Yes!)

Conversation Tips

• Keep it warm and caring.
  • Break it into steps—you don’t need to cover everything at once.
  • Celebrate progress! Every box checked can be peace of mind gained.

Final Thought

Estate planning is truly a holiday gift of love. It protects your family, clarifies your wishes, and creates peace of mind. Your credit union, together with Gentreo, is here to help every family create, store, and share the documents they need—all in one place, at one affordable price. If you have questions or want to learn more about estate planning, visit https://www.gentreo.com/resource-center.

Make sure you use the link from your credit union to get your special discount!