Planning ahead isn’t morbid—it’s a kindness. A clear, simple end‑of‑life planning checklist gives your family the answers they’ll need during a difficult time. Below, you’ll find a practical overview of the 12 core documents most families should prepare, plus explanations and quick steps to complete each one.

1. Last Will & Testament
2. Revocable Living Trust (optional but useful)
3. Beneficiary Designations for Non‑Probate Assets
4. Durable Financial Power of Attorney
5. Durable Medical Power of Attorney (Health Care Proxy)
6. Living Will / Advance Health Care Directive
7. HIPAA Release (Medical Privacy Authorization)
8. POLST and/or DNR Order (if appropriate)
9. Funeral & Final Disposition Instructions (including cremation wishes)
10. Organ & Tissue Donor Registration
11. Digital Assets Plan (passwords, social media, crypto; name a Digital Executor)
12. Pet Care Plan or Pet Trust

• What it does: Directs who inherits your property, names an executor, and can nominate guardians for minor children.
• Why it matters: Without a will, state intestacy laws decide—often not how you’d choose.
• How to do it: List your assets and beneficiaries, choose an executor + backup, and sign with the witnesses/notary your state requires. Review every 2–3 years or after major life changes.

• What it does: Holds property during your lifetime and transfers it to beneficiaries without probate.
• Why it matters: Can speed up settlement, maintain privacy, and provide incapacity management.
• How to do it: Create the trust document, name a trustee + successor, fund the trust (retitle accounts/real estate). Unfunded trusts don’t help.

• What it covers: 401(k)s, IRAs, HSAs, life insurance, some bank/brokerage accounts (POD/TOD).
• Why it matters: These pass outside your will—whoever is on the form wins, even if your will says otherwise.
• Action steps: Inventory all accounts, confirm primary + contingent beneficiaries, and update after marriages, divorces, births, or deaths

• What it does: Authorizes a trusted agent to handle money/legal matters if you’re incapacitated.
• Decisions covered: Paying bills, filing taxes, managing real estate, dealing with insurers/government.
• Tip: Choose someone organized and financially responsible; set limits if desired.

• What it does: Names the person who makes medical decisions if you cannot.
• Conversation cues: Share your values around quality of life, pain management, and end‑of‑life care. Give your proxy copies of your documents.

• What it does: Records your preferences on treatments like ventilators, feeding tubes, dialysis, and comfort‑focused care.
• When it’s used: Typically after two clinicians determine you can’t make decisions.
• Keep it practical: Use plain language and cover pain control, visitors, spiritual care, and where you prefer to receive care.

• What it does: Allows doctors and hospitals to share your health information with the people you name.
• Why it matters: Without it, loved ones may be left in the dark in an emergency.
• Best practice: Name your proxy, backups, and key family members; keep copies with your advance directive.

• What they are: Clinician‑signed medical orders for people with serious illness or frailty. A DNR addresses CPR; a POLST covers broader interventions (CPR, intubation, hospital transfer, artificial nutrition).
• When to consider: If you wouldn’t want aggressive, hospital‑based treatments at the end of life. Ask your clinician.

• What to capture: Your preference for cremation or burial, service details (funeral vs. celebration of life), desired location for rests (interment, scattering), and any prepaid arrangements.
• Why now: Families make these decisions quickly; leaving guidance reduces stress and guesswork.
• Tip: Store this separately from your will (which is often read after services).

• What it does: Legally records your decision to donate organs/tissue.
• Action steps: Register with your state donor registry and share your wishes with family; add a note in your advance directive.

• What to include: List of online accounts, password manager access, instructions for social media, cloud storage, loyalty points, and any cryptocurrency.
• Why it matters: Protects privacy, prevents fraud, and ensures financial value isn’t lost.
• Tip: Avoid listing passwords directly in your will; use a secure vault and reference it in your documents.

• What it does: Names a caregiver and sets aside funds/instructions for your pets.
• Why it matters: Pets are legally property and can’t inherit; a pet trust (allowed in all states) creates enforceable care and oversight.
• Include: Food/med routines, vet info, behavior notes, preferred caregiver + backup, and funds source.

• Keep originals in a fire/water‑resistant safe at home; give copies to your executor/proxy and attorney.
• Share the location and access details (key/code) with at least two trusted people.
• Maintain a secure digital vault for scans, account lists, and your end of life planning checklist.

• After major life events (marriage, divorce, birth, death, move, major diagnosis).
• Every 2–3 years for beneficiary designations and powers of attorney.
• Any time your wishes around how to prepare for death—care, comfort, or cremation—change.