Preparing for End of Life
End of Life Checklist
Preparing for the death of a loved one can be a very overwhelming, emotional, and challenging time. Planning for the future can make all the difference in an emergency and at the end-of-life. Being prepared and having important documents and other information in a single place can give you peace of mind, help ensure your wishes are honored, and ease the burden on your loved ones. After the death of of a loved one we want to focus on remembering, grieving, and gathering together with our friends and family for emotional support. We don’t want to deal with a daunting pile of paperwork — attending to final arrangements and the many legal, financial, and other tasks that need to be accomplished. This time can be made easier by taking some necessary steps to gather and locate important documents prior to the time of death. It is recommended that after these items are gathered, kept in a secure location and easily accessible. Once the documents are gathered, tell someone you trust where to find your "in the event of death" paperwork.
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Information and Documents to Include
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1. Personal Information
Full Name (maiden name, if applicable)
Home Address (& previous address(es))
Parents/Siblings Full Names
Birthdate/Place (birth certificate)
Home & Cell Phone Numbers
Social Security Number (copy of social security card)
Education
Spouse Full Name (marriage license)
Domestic partnership registration
Driver’s license or state ID
Passport, citizenship, immigration and/or alien registration documents
Pets (names, vet, vet records, who to take care of in event of...)
Armed Forces ID/Discharge Papers
Divorce Certificate
2. Will and/or Trust
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3. Deeds and Titles
Property deeds (including any recent appraisals)
Mortgage documents (and promissory / loan notes)
Vehicle titles and registrations (car, boat, RV, motorcycle, etc.)
​4. Insurance Policies
Life insurance (including premium payment records)
Accidental life insurance
Veterans’ insurance
Employers or pension insurance
Funeral insurance (or other death-related benefit plan)
Mortgage and/or credit insurance
Credit card insurance (for balances)
Health insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental, private, dental, and vision)
Property insurance (homeowners/renters’ insurance, car insurance, etc.)
Worker’s compensation insurance (and payment records)
Long-term care insurance
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5. Financial Information – include most recent statements for all accounts and list the beneficiaries, if any.
Bank accounts – checking, savings, CD’s, etc.
Investment/brokerage accounts, IRAs, 401Ks, etc.
Stocks and bonds
Annuities
Credit and debit card accounts
Safety deposit boxes, keys, and authorized users
​ Any automatic withdrawals/payments
Expenses (mortgage/rent, credit cards, utilities, car payments, memberships, subscriptions, etc.)
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6. Other Financial Records
Survivor annuity benefit papers
Employer / retirement benefit (pension) plans, pension/profit-sharing plans, etc.
Veteran’s benefit records
Disability payment documents (State, Veteran’s, etc.)
Income tax returns (from the current year)
Gift tax returns (for all years)
Property tax records and statements
Business interest held, financial statements and agreements, contracts, etc.
Loans in my name (credit cards, home equity, vehicles, etc)
Investment records
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7. Legal Papers
Court documents for adoptions and divorce (including any property settlement agreements, name changes, prenuptial agreements, etc.)
Military service papers, including discharge records
Deceased’s final instructions, disposition authorization, and/or designated agent forms (sometimes included in an advanced directive such as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care)
Organ/tissue donation record
Community property agreements
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8. Important Contact Information (include name, phone number, email and/or mailing address of:
Accountant
Attorney
Banker
Clergy
Employer
Executor of Estate
Financial Planner
Funeral Home
Health Care Proxy
Insurance Agent
Pension/Retirement Fund Contact
People Who Should be Notified
Power of Attorney
Stockbrocker
Tax Preparer
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9. Electronics and Online Accounts (usernames and passwords)
Online Account Access
Cloud Storage
Delivery Services
Email Addresses
Entertainment (streaming channels, music, gaming, etc.)
Healthcare (electronic medical record)
Shopping
Software Licenses
Travel
Web Hosting
Social Media
Usernames and passwords for each platform (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc)
Unlocking Electronics/Security
Apple ID
Cellphone
Computer
Home Security System
Internet/ WiFi Rounters
Other
10. After Death Checklist
Arrange for care of family and/or pets
Collect documents and paperwork
Forward mail
Notify upon death list
Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate
Secure property (house, apartment, etc.), if necessary
Secure vital statistics (required documents)
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Birth certificate
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Certified death certificate
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Divorce certificate
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Legal Will
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Marriage license
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Social Security card
Update and Close Accounts
Cancel Memberships & Subscriptions​
Forward mail
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