Collecting the right information is the first step to drafting a will for your clients. But as every legal professional knows, chasing down details like beneficiary names and asset lists, can quickly turn into a back-and-forth nightmare.
That’s where a structured will intake form comes in. If you take time to create a comprehensive will questionnaire, it’ll be much easier to speed up the onboarding process and reduce errors. In this article, we’ll walk through what a will intake form should include and provide a template you can use or adapt for your practice.
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Why use a will intake form in the first place?
Using a will intake form is by no means mandatory for a legal advisor, but it certainly helps you gather all the information you need from clients in a more organized way. Instead of chasing details through endless emails, you can guide clients step by step through the process, making sure that nothing slips through the cracks.
For busy legal professionals, this means less time spent clarifying missing details and fewer drafting errors. For clients, on the other hand, this means a smoother and less intimidating experience that builds trust in your services.
The bottom line is that an intake form saves time on both sides and helps you deliver both accurate and professional results with confidence.
30+ questions for your will intake form template
The following form is designed to collect the necessary information needed to draft a will. Each section focuses on a different area of your client’s personal, family, and financial situation, but you can customize them to suit specific client needs or state requirements.
| Note: We’ll also provide screenshots to illustrate what this form could look like if you’re using Content Snare to build it. |
Personal information
The first section gathers your client’s basic identification details. We encourage you to double-check whether names are recorded exactly as they appear on official documents.
1. Full name
2. Date of birth
3. Address
4. Phone number
5. Email address
6. Marital status
Family information
Here you’ll capture details about the client’s spouse, children, and other dependents. Bear in mind that additional fields may be needed if they have a blended family or unique circumstances.
7. Spouse or partner full name
8. Children’s names and dates of birth
9. Dependents or other family members to include
10. Preferred guardian for minor children
11. Alternate guardian for minor children
Assets and liabilities
The following section is designed to provide an overview of your client’s full financial picture. Encourage them to be as detailed as possible, and allow for extra notes if they have complex holdings.
12. Real estate
Provide addresses and approximate values.
13. Bank accounts and balances
14. Investments
Note: Think of things such as stocks, bonds, and retirement accounts.
15. Business ownership or interests
16. Personal property of significant value
Note: These can be items such as vehicles, jewelry, art, and collections.
17. Outstanding debts or liabilities
Beneficiaries
In this section, your client can outline who should receive their assets. Remind them to be specific to avoid confusion later on in the process.
18. List primary beneficiaries and what they should receive
19. Contingent beneficiaries if primary beneficiaries are unavailable
20. Specific gifts
Note: These are items or amounts to particular people or organizations.
21. Charitable donations or bequests
Executors and trustees
This section identifies the individuals who will manage the estate. Your job is to advise clients to carefully choose people they trust to act responsibly.
22. Preferred executor full name
23. Preferred executor contact information
24. Alternate executor
25. Trustee for any trusts created under the will
26. Alternate trustee
Special instructions
Use this area for personal wishes or directions that do not neatly fit into other sections. These questions are optional, but they can provide important clarity.
27. Funeral or burial preferences
28. Instructions for digital assets and online accounts
29. Any additional notes or special circumstances
Professional assistance
This final section ensures the client has access to professional advice where needed. It can also record their acknowledgment of the limits of the intake form.
30. Name and contact information of attorney or legal advisor
31. Client signature
32. Date completed
Create your will intake form in minutes with Content Snare
Collecting client information doesn’t have to be a time-consuming process. Instead of juggling email threads and missing details, Content Snare ensures you get everything upfront in a secure and structured form.
Our user-friendly client onboarding software comes with ready-made legal templates that you can customize to fit your practice. Powered by AI, Content Snare can also generate your intake form instantly from a short prompt or an existing document with your preferred questions. At the same time, all client data is protected with military-grade security and ISO 27001 certification, so you can be confident in meeting compliance requirements.
Besides that, automated reminders make it easy to keep clients on track without the endless follow-ups, while automated progress saving allows respondents to fill out your form hassle-free in more than one sitting.
Sounds tempting?
Sign up for a 14-day trial to build a perfect will intake form template with Content Snare.
