Wills in Collierville

Separate will instructions from asset-transfer records

A will records instructions about an estate and identifies the person you designate to handle it. Some assets may instead be directed by ownership arrangements or beneficiary designations. Those records should be reviewed alongside the will rather than assumed to be governed by it.

For each significant asset, note how it is titled, whether a beneficiary is named, and what document or statement confirms that information. If the will and a current record appear to point in different directions, flag the inconsistency for review instead of assuming which one controls.

Compare who has which role

The person named in a will to handle estate matters has a different role from a trustee, an agent acting under a power of attorney, or a healthcare decision-maker. A power of attorney authorizes another person to act on someone’s behalf, but its scope, duration, and limits matter. It should not be treated as authority over every decision or as a substitute for will instructions.

Make a role list that names each person, the document associated with that person, and the task or property involved. This can reveal missing information—for example, a named person whose current contact details are unknown—or confusion about whether a document addresses financial matters, healthcare, or estate administration.

• Will: the person designated to handle the estate and the instructions stated in the document.
• Trust: the trustee and the property or trust terms involved.
• Financial power of attorney: the agent and the authority described in that document.
• Healthcare directive: the agent or alternate and any stated healthcare preferences.

Prepare a record-matching checklist

Start with a simple asset-and-document table. List each account, property interest, or other asset you want reviewed; record the ownership or beneficiary information shown on the latest available record; then identify the will, trust, or other document that may relate to it. Attach copies or note where the current record can be found.

Include prior versions of estate documents if you have them, along with current contact information for people named in them. Mark uncertain or outdated entries rather than filling gaps from memory. The goal is to make discrepancies and unanswered questions easy to discuss—not to decide legal effect from a checklist alone.

• Asset or account and record date.
• Ownership or beneficiary information as displayed.
• Related will or trust, if any.
• Person named and the role or document involved.
• Question to resolve, such as an apparent mismatch or missing record.

Review and decide what to update

Dale Law Group, PLLC offers wills and related estate-planning services, including pour-over wills, revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and advance healthcare directives. A review can focus on whether the written instructions and the records you have collected reflect the plan you intend, and which documents or account information may need attention.

For clients in Collierville, the firm’s listed office is in Murfreesboro, not Collierville. For questions about a Shelby County proceeding or records, office directories identify separate county contacts, but a directory listing alone does not determine the appropriate venue, filing, or whether a proceeding is needed. Confirm current contact and visit instructions before relying on an office address.