End of Life Planning Checklist

A practical, step-by-step checklist so your family never has to guess what you wanted.

By Terry Feely|Former Firefighter and Paramedic|April 2026

Planning ahead is one of the most generous things you can do for the people you love. It means your family will never have to make difficult financial, medical, or funeral decisions under pressure without knowing what you wanted. This checklist covers the essentials: legal documents, finances, funeral preferences, digital assets, and how to share it all with your family.

Legal Documents

Last will and testament: Specifies how your assets are distributed and who is responsible for carrying out your wishes.
Durable power of attorney: Designates someone to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare proxy (medical power of attorney): Names someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot.
Advance directive / living will: Records your wishes for life support, resuscitation, pain management, and other medical interventions.

Financial Accounts and Insurance

Review and update beneficiary designations on all retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and bank accounts.
Create a master list of all financial accounts including banks, brokerage accounts, retirement funds, and debts.
Confirm life insurance coverage is adequate and the policy is current.
Consider final expense insurance or a payable-on-death account to cover funeral costs without burdening your family.

Funeral and Burial Preferences

Decide between burial and cremation and record your preference in writing.
Specify the type of service you want: traditional funeral, celebration of life, graveside, or no service.
Consider a prepaid funeral plan to lock in today's prices.
Note the location of your DD-214 if you are a veteran (needed for VA burial benefits).
Record the location of all important documents: will, insurance policies, deeds, passwords.

Digital Assets

Create a secure list of passwords for email, banking, social media, and online accounts.
Designate a legacy contact for social media accounts (Facebook, Google, Apple all offer this).
Decide what should happen to your social media profiles: memorialized, deleted, or managed by someone.
Note any digital assets with monetary value: cryptocurrency, domain names, online businesses.

What to Share With Your Family

Your plans are only useful if your family knows about them. At a minimum, make sure at least one trusted person knows:

Where your legal documents are stored (physical location and any digital copies).
The name and contact information of your attorney, financial advisor, and insurance agent.
Your funeral and burial preferences.
How to access your financial accounts and digital assets.

How to Get Started Today

Pick one thing from this list and do it this week. You do not need to do everything at once. Start with a will or an advance directive.
Have one conversation. Tell your spouse, child, or closest friend where your documents are and what your preferences are.
Write it down. Even a handwritten letter with your wishes, stored somewhere your family can find it, is better than nothing.

Frequently asked questions

What documents do I need for end of life planning?

At minimum, you need a last will and testament, a durable power of attorney, a healthcare proxy (medical power of attorney), and an advance directive or living will. Together, these cover your finances, your medical care, and your wishes for what happens after death.

When should I start end of life planning?

As soon as you have dependents, own property, or have strong preferences about your care and funeral. Most financial planners recommend starting in your 30s or 40s, but it is never too late. The best time to plan is before you need to.

What is an advance directive?

An advance directive is a legal document that states your wishes for medical treatment if you become unable to speak for yourself. It typically covers life support, resuscitation, feeding tubes, and pain management. It is sometimes called a living will.

How do I tell my family about my end of life wishes?

Start with a simple conversation. Tell them where your documents are stored, who your attorney and financial advisor are, and what your preferences are for funeral and burial. You do not need to cover everything in one sitting. Written notes or a letter can supplement the conversation.