The Entities Module
The legal entities the family holds — LLCs, trusts, corporations, partnerships — with the per-entity detail, tax records, and intellectual property an executor or successor needs, plus the warning that entity assets do not pass through the will.
Text file — the flexible one. Use it as-is, open it in any editor, or paste it into an AI tool to reshape the blank form to fit your family: rename a field, add a row, drop one you don't need.
Print / PDF — the ready-to-use one. Print it and fill it in by hand, or choose Save as PDF and complete it in your own offline PDF app. Either way it stays with you — the finished Secure Guide template goes inside your Vault.
One rule: only ever give an AI tool the blank template. Never paste your real information — passwords, account numbers, anything you'd keep secret — into an AI tool, an online service, or anywhere outside your own Vault. Customizing an empty form is fine; filling it in happens privately, offline. That's the same rule this site follows: nothing sensitive ever leaves your hands.
Secure Guide Starter Template
This template belongs in The Secure Guide, stored within The Vault. Maintain one detail block per entity; update at formation, dissolution, or role changes.
| Entity Name | Type | Purpose | Key Assets Held | State of Formation | EIN | Formation Date | Operating / Trust Agreement Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Legal name, type, purpose, assets held, ownership/membership structure, the planner's role, other parties and roles, registered agent and contact, state of formation and registration number, EIN, formation and operating/trust document locations, annual filing requirements and who files, accountant/CPA and attorney contacts, succession provisions on death or incapacity, and notes for the executor or successor.
Duplicate the Entity Detail block for each entity.
| Entity | Tax Return Type | Years Retained | Storage Location | CPA Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
For general tax record retention guidance, see the Tax Planning and Documentation Module.
| Item | Type | Status | Income-Generating | Registration / Protection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
For digital assets and domain names with financial value, see the Digital Financial Assets Module.
Family Guide Starter Template
This template belongs in The Family Guide. It gives heirs an overview of the entities and the contacts who manage them.
| Entity Name | Type | Purpose | Primary Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Role | Entity | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Each entity has its own operating agreement or trust document, tax identification number, and filing requirements. Do not assume that assets held by these entities transfer through the will — each has its own succession provisions. Contact the attorney before taking any action with respect to these entities. Full entity documentation is in The Secure Guide.