Prepping for death checklist: Your final affairs mission list
Information is useless without action. When death comes, your family’s brain will be overloaded with grief. This checklist converts anxiety into a series of manageable missions, ensuring nothing is left undone. Print it out and work through it one box at a time.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be considered, legal or financial advice. Consult a qualified estate planning attorney for documents valid in your jurisdiction.
Mission 1: Complete your legal foundation
Your goal: create the legally binding documents that are the bedrock of your estate plan.
- Consult an estate planning attorney to ensure your documents are valid and suit your needs.
- Create or update your Last Will and Testament or a Living Trust. In it, be sure to:
- Name an Executor (and a backup) to manage your estate.
- Name Beneficiaries who will inherit your assets.
- Name a Guardian (and a backup) for any minor children.
- Create a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances to appoint someone to manage your finances if you’re incapacitated.
- Create a Health Care Directive (Advance Directive or Living Will) to:
- Appoint a Health Care Agent (and a backup) to make medical decisions for you.
- State your wishes for end-of-life care.
Mission 2: Create your financial map
Your goal: leave a clear, easy-to-follow guide to your entire financial life.
- Choose a format for your map (a digital spreadsheet or a section in a physical binder).
- List all assets:
- Bank accounts (institution, account #, names on account).
- Investment & retirement accounts (firm, account #).
- Real estate (address and location of the deed).
- Vehicles (note the location of titles and keys).
- CRITICAL: log in to all retirement and insurance accounts and confirm your beneficiary designations are correct and up to date.
- List all liabilities (debts): mortgages, home equity, vehicle, personal loans, and credit cards.
- List all insurance policies (life, home, auto) with company, policy #, and agent’s contact info.
- List your professional team’s contact info (attorney, accountant, financial advisor).
- Set an annual calendar reminder to review and update your financial map.
Mission 3: Organize your digital life
Your goal: provide a secure key and clear instructions for your online world.
- Designate a “Digital Executor” and inform them of this role.
- Set up a password manager (1Password, Bitwarden) to consolidate all your logins.
- Create a secure plan for your executor to access the master password.
- Document your digital estate:
- List email & social media accounts with instructions (memorialize or delete).
- List online financial accounts, especially any cryptocurrency exchanges.
- Provide the physical location of any crypto hardware wallets or seed phrases.
- List cloud storage accounts with instructions for your personal files.
Mission 4: Document your personal wishes
Your goal: provide personal guidance that brings comfort and clarity to your family.
- Make decisions about your body & budget:
- Decide between burial, cremation, green burial, or body donation.
- Research the costs and create a plan to pay for your arrangements.
- Outline your memorial service (venue, participants, music, readings).
- Write a draft of your obituary or list key points you’d like included.
- Create a care plan for dependents:
- Designate an agreed-upon caregiver (and a backup) for pets or other dependents.
- Write a detailed “profile” for each dependent with routines and medical needs.
- Assign sentimental items using an informal “Personal Property Memorandum.”
- Write final messages and seal them in labeled envelopes for your loved ones.
- Write a “Read Me First” letter to your executor to guide them.
Final step: Assemble and inform
- Assemble all these documents into a single, clearly labeled “Legacy Plan” binder or secure digital folder.
- Store the Legacy Plan in a secure, fireproof, and accessible location.
- Tell your Executor (and a backup person) the exact location of the Legacy Plan.