When someone dies, the person left to settle the estate inherits a puzzle: which accounts exist, at which banks, with what balances, and what is still owed. The information is scattered across statements, drawers, and inboxes, and no single document pulls it together. That document is the estate inventory.
This worksheet is a calm, structured place to gather it, whether you are organizing your own affairs in advance or stepping in as an executor.
Your data never reaches us
Nifty Utilities has no backend server, database, user accounts, or endpoint capable of receiving your tool inputs. Files and entries are processed inside your browser. We cannot view, capture, or store them.
Asset or debt
Each row describes one thing the estate owns or owes. List real property, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, valuable personal property, business interests, and life insurance, then the other side of the ledger: mortgages, loans, credit card balances, taxes, and final expenses. Capturing debts alongside assets is what lets you eventually see the estate's net value, not just a list of what was owned.
Type
Categorizing each entry, real estate, bank account, investment account, vehicle, personal property, or debt, lets you group and total the estate by kind. This grouping mirrors how a probate court and an estate attorney think about an estate, and it makes the eventual handoff to a professional far smoother. It also surfaces gaps: if there is no "retirement account" row for someone you know had a 401(k), you know to keep looking.
Institution or location
For financial assets, record the bank, brokerage, or insurer holding the account. For physical property, record where it is, the address of real estate, the location of a vehicle or a safe deposit box. This field is the practical heart of the worksheet, because half the work of settling an estate is simply finding where everything is. A complete location column tells survivors exactly which institutions to contact.
Estimated value
Enter the approximate value as of the date of death, which is the reference point most estate and tax processes use. Account balances come straight from statements. Real estate can be estimated from a county assessor's record as a starting point. Estimates are fine for a working draft; some assets, real property, business interests, collectibles, may later need a formal appraisal for court or tax purposes.
- Capture debts and liabilities, not just assets.
- Use the date-of-death value as your reference point.
- Note exactly where each account is held or each item is located.
- Check for digital assets and online-only accounts that leave no paper.
- Common mistake: overlooking small or dormant accounts that still require closing.
How to use this generator
Add a row per asset or debt, entering a type, the institution or location, and an estimated value. Use Add Row to continue, then Download CSV. Open it in a spreadsheet to separate assets from debts and compute a net estate value. Everything happens in your browser; nothing you enter is uploaded or stored by this site. This is a general-purpose organizational worksheet, not legal advice. Probate and inventory requirements vary widely by state and by the size of the estate, so consult a qualified estate attorney about the formal filing your jurisdiction requires.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a legally valid estate inventory?
No. It is an organizational worksheet, not a court document. A formal probate inventory usually must follow a court-specified format and may need to be signed under oath or supported by a formal appraisal. Use this to gather information, then have an estate attorney prepare the official inventory your state requires.
What if I do not know every value?
Estimates are fine for a working draft. Pull account balances from statements or by contacting the institution. Estimate real estate from the assessor's record. Where precise value matters for tax or court, real property, business interests, collectibles, a formal appraisal may ultimately be needed.
Who is supposed to prepare the inventory?
Generally the executor named in the will, or a court-appointed administrator if there is no will. Family and beneficiaries often help locate assets. An estate attorney or accountant can confirm the inventory is complete and meets the court's requirements.
Can I use this for my own estate planning?
Yes, and it is one of the most useful things you can leave behind. A current list of what you own, what you owe, and where it all is spares your survivors months of detective work. Keep it somewhere trusted people can find it, and update it as accounts change.
Important
This tool provides estimates and general-purpose documents, not financial, tax, legal, or professional advice. Verify important results before relying on them.
Support
Problem with this tool or suggestions for improvement? Please email support@niftyutilities.com.