Ask a trusted person.
Discuss who would be willing to help, what you might ask of them, and who could be a backup. A family member isn't the only option; consider trusted friends as well.
Getting Your Affairs in Order
Make it easier for someone to step in.
Organize the information, documents, and practical details your family or trusted helpers would need if you couldn't explain them yourself.
You don't have to finish everything today. Start with a useful map of what exists, where it is, and whom to contact.
Begin with the person who would need to help.
An organized file is a starting point. Pair it with a conversation so the people you trust know what you've prepared and what still needs attention.
Create a starting point.
List key contacts, important documents, and essential responsibilities. Identify where detailed records are kept instead of copying every private detail into one shared list.
Walk through it together.
Show the appropriate person where to begin. Identify questions about permissions or legal authority before assuming they can make decisions or transactions for you.
Organizing information and granting authority are different steps. This checklist and an information workbook don't replace a will, trust, power of attorney, or healthcare directive. For an introduction to financial-agent authority, see the CFPB's power-of-attorney explanation.
Getting Organized Checklist
Use these six subjects to identify your next task. Keep your own private notes about what exists, where it's located, and what needs follow-up. This is a starting checklist, not a complete personal-information organizer.
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People and professional contacts
Record trusted contacts and backups, along with your attorney, accountant, advisers, and healthcare providers. Note each person's role rather than assuming everyone can do the same things.
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Important documents and locations
Identify current estate-planning documents, their dates, where signed originals are kept, and who has copies. Include the location of other key records, such as deeds, titles, and insurance policies.
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Money, insurance, and benefits
List institutions, account or policy types, income sources, and debts. Identify where current ownership and beneficiary records are stored. Keep full numbers and other sensitive details in protected records.
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Bills and recurring responsibilities
Note essential bills, due dates, usual payment methods, and where statements can be found. Identify household, property, or business tasks that would need attention during an absence.
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Household, care, and pets
Locate emergency contacts and current care information. Record practical routines, agreed helpers, and arrangements for dependents or pets. Keep practical notes separate from legal authorizations.
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Digital information and personal wishes
Identify important online services, family photos, and where secure access instructions are maintained. Note where personal wishes are recorded and which questions need legal or professional review.
Finish with one next step: name the task, who will handle it, and when to follow up. Date your locator and review it when information changes. Keep passwords, recovery codes, and private keys out of shared notes.
If You're Reading This, I'm Probably Dead
A workbook for gathering the important information you don't want your family to have to reconstruct. The checklist above helps you identify where to begin; the workbook provides a fuller place to organize the details.
Use the workbook alongside your legal planning documents and a conversation with the people you trust. It's an information organizer, not a substitute for a will, trust, power of attorney, or healthcare directive.
Read about the next piece of your plan.
Start with the practical handoff, or choose a guide for the information you're organizing.
Putting the plan into practiceHow to Prepare Someone to Step In: A Practical Family Handoff
Walk a trusted person through where to start, whom to contact, and which questions to resolve before acting. Try a simple scenario without handing over control of your accounts.
Read the article →
Gather the information
Estate Planning Inventory: What to Gather Before You Begin
Build a broader list of assets, debts, ownership records, beneficiaries, and important contacts.
Read the article → Make the records findableWhere Should You Store Your Will and Estate Planning Documents?
Think through protected originals, appropriate copies, and a practical document locator.
Read the article → Plan for digital informationDigital Asset Estate Planning
Identify online accounts, important files, and questions about secure, authorized access.
Read the article → Understand the rolesChoosing the People in Your Estate Plan
Compare the jobs of executors, agents, trustees, and guardians before making appointments.
Read the article →Put the legal pieces alongside the practical information.
Locate what you already have before buying replacements. Then consider what you need to address: estate distribution, decisions during life, or a trust-based plan.
4-in-1 Estate Planning Kit
Includes a Last Will & Testament, Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare Power of Attorney, and Living Will, with instructions for each.
Explore the 4-in-1 kitRevocable Living Trust Kit
Includes a Revocable Living Trust, Pour-Over Will, Trust Funding Checklist, and instructions. Its listed contents don't include financial or healthcare powers of attorney.
Explore the trust kitAlready have part of your plan? Use the Kit Finder or compare the kits to explore targeted options rather than automatically purchasing both packages. For a comparison of planning approaches, read Do You Need a Will or a Trust?
Review each document's instructions and state-specific requirements before signing. Keep your working checklist separate from signed originals; take proposed legal changes through the appropriate document and execution process.
When the situation needs individual attention: consult an attorney about conflicting documents, questions about capacity, business succession, special-needs planning, significant family conflict, or other circumstances you're unsure how to address. See When a DIY Estate Plan May Not Be Enough.
Do a simple walkthrough before the information is needed.
Ask your trusted person to explain where they'd start if you couldn't help for a week. Could they locate your contact list, identify the right decision-maker, and find the records for an essential bill? Note anything that still depends on your memory or an unclear instruction.
Keep this a discussion, not a test transaction or account login. A helper should understand the route to authorized help, not just where information is stored.
Use the practical family-handoff guide →
Revisit the walkthrough when you change documents, institutions, storage locations, or helpers. For a broader review, see How Often Should You Update Your Estate Plan?
A few common questions
Do I still need to organize if I already have a will or trust?
Yes. Use your existing documents as the starting point. Organize the practical information around them and ask the appropriate professional about any gaps or inconsistencies. You don't need to replace an existing plan just to make its records easier to find.
Do I have to share every balance and password now?
No. Begin with the people, institutions, and record locations your helper would need to identify. Decide separately what to disclose, to whom, and through which secure process. Read the digital-assets guide for access-planning questions.
Is this only about what happens after I die?
No. Include practical arrangements for an unexpected absence or illness as well. Keep the roles distinct: the documents and authority that apply during life aren't necessarily the ones used after death. The handoff guide explains that transition and where to seek advice.