This part of the questionnaire asks about your children and, if you choose, your parents and siblings. Your answers help your documents identify your family correctly.
You are not deciding who receives what. Listing someone here does not mean you are leaving them anything. Those decisions come later, with your attorney.
Why these questions matter
Family information helps your attorney see who may need to be considered in your plan. In some cases the law requires certain family members to be addressed. In others, the information provides helpful context.
Children
The page explains: Any children (living or deceased) are required to be listed in your estate plan documents, regardless of how you plan to benefit them.
Living children
You are asked: Do you have any living children? Couples see a version that asks about both of you. This includes:
- Biological or adopted children
- Children from prior relationships
- Children who are minors and children who are adults
- If you are widowed, both your children and your late spouse’s children
Unmarried partners see this note: Add details about your own biological children and only add children of your partner if you contemplate including them in your estate plan.
For each child, you enter:
- First, middle, and last name, and a preferred name or nickname
- Date of birth and the child’s pronouns
- If you are completing the questionnaire together, whose child they are
- The city and state where the child lives
- The child’s marital status, and a spouse’s full name if the child is married
Use each person’s full legal name, for example Jonathan rather than Jon. A nickname goes in the preferred name field. If you do not know someone’s legal name yet, enter what you know, because the full legal name is needed before your documents are final.
Where someone lives can matter. If a child may serve in a role such as Personal Representative or Trustee, their state can affect taxes and practical arrangements. These details also keep an accurate picture of each branch of your family, which matters most in blended and multi-generation families.
Two checkboxes may also apply:
- CHECK HERE if this child has children of their own: You then add each grandchild’s name, pronouns, and age.
- CHECK HERE if this child has a disability or special needs that might require qualification for government benefits: This helps your attorney shape a plan that protects the child’s eligibility. For more, see this article.
Deceased children
You are asked: Do you have any deceased children? If you are widowed, this includes your late spouse’s deceased children.
If a deceased child left children or grandchildren, those descendants may have inheritance rights under the law. That is why the page asks about them.
Listing them does not mean they will inherit automatically, or that any decision has been made. It gives your attorney the full family picture, and you can talk about whether and how to include them.
If you do not want a child to benefit
Still enter the child’s information. Listing a child does not mean they will receive anything. Tell your attorney your wishes, so your plan reflects them.
Parents and siblings
You are asked: Would you like to add information about your parents and your siblings? The page suggests adding them if you might consider them as a beneficiary, guardian, executor, or trustee.
Adding them is most helpful when they:
- Could serve in a role such as Personal Representative or Trustee
- Might be beneficiaries in some situations
- Could be next of kin if no one else is available
For each person, you enter their name, how they are related to you, and where they live. Adding someone does not give them any rights. It gives your attorney what they need to think through what-ifs with you.
If you live in Oregon In Oregon, the page asks where a person lives only if you are naming them as a health care agent or representative. The box reads: CHECK HERE if you are naming this child (or this person) as a health care agent or representative. When you check it, you also enter their full address, phone, and email for your health care documents.
Want to read more?
These articles are optional.
- Guardians: Choosing someone to raise your minor children. See this article.