Chapter 30: The Complete Checklist

How to use this chapter

This is the chapter you can tear out of the book, photocopy, and hand to anyone who needs it. It is the one-document summary of everything in the preceding 29 chapters. If you only ever read one chapter, this is the one to bookmark.

The checklist is organized by the life phase you're in:

Phase A: Proactive planning (you are alive and healthy, planning ahead). Phase B: In a health crisis (you or a family member has a diagnosis or decline). Phase C: In the first week after a death. Phase D: In the first year after a death (estate administration). Phase E: After the estate is closed (ongoing).

Pick your phase. Work the checklist.

Phase A: Proactive Planning Checklist (100 items)

Foundational Documents

• [ ] 1. Draft or review last will and testament.
• [ ] 2. Nominate executor and at least one backup executor.
• [ ] 3. Nominate guardian for any minor children and at least one backup.
• [ ] 4. Execute will with proper witnesses per state law.
• [ ] 5. Consider whether a revocable living trust is appropriate; if yes, draft and fund.
• [ ] 6. Draft durable power of attorney (financial) with primary and backup agents.
• [ ] 7. Draft healthcare power of attorney (medical) with primary and backup agents.
• [ ] 8. Complete an advance healthcare directive / living will.
• [ ] 9. Sign HIPAA authorizations naming those who can receive medical information.
• [ ] 10. Store originals of all documents in a secure, findable location.

Beneficiary Designations

• [ ] 11. List every retirement account (401(k), IRA, 403(b), etc.).
• [ ] 12. Confirm or update primary beneficiaries on each.
• [ ] 13. Confirm or update contingent beneficiaries on each.
• [ ] 14. Ensure per stirpes language where descendants are involved.
• [ ] 15. Spouse consent confirmed for any non-spouse primary beneficiary on 401(k)/plans.
• [ ] 16. List every life insurance policy.
• [ ] 17. Update life insurance beneficiaries consistent with overall plan.
• [ ] 18. Add TOD (Transfer on Death) designations to brokerage accounts where appropriate.
• [ ] 19. Add POD (Payable on Death) designations to bank accounts where appropriate.
• [ ] 20. Consider TODD (Transfer on Death Deed) for real estate if your state allows.

Asset Inventory

• [ ] 21. Document all real estate owned (addresses, deeds).
• [ ] 22. Document all vehicles (VIN, title location).
• [ ] 23. Document all bank and brokerage accounts (institution, account type, approximate value).
• [ ] 24. Document all retirement accounts similarly.
• [ ] 25. Document all life insurance and annuities.
• [ ] 26. Document business interests and ownership percentages.
• [ ] 27. Document significant personal property (jewelry, art, collections) with photos.
• [ ] 28. Document digital assets (cloud accounts, domains, crypto, online businesses).
• [ ] 29. Document subscriptions and recurring payments.
• [ ] 30. Update inventory annually.

Personal Property Planning

• [ ] 31. Create a personal property memorandum.
• [ ] 32. List specific items going to specific people.
• [ ] 33. Update memorandum when wishes change.
• [ ] 34. Sign and date memorandum.
• [ ] 35. Store with will.

Trust Management (if applicable)

• [ ] 36. Confirm trust is funded — all intended assets titled in trust.
• [ ] 37. Verify real estate deeds transferred to trust.
• [ ] 38. Verify bank and brokerage accounts retitled to trust.
• [ ] 39. Successor trustees confirmed and informed.
• [ ] 40. Schedule periodic review of trust.

Digital Assets

• [ ] 41. Set up Apple Legacy Contact.
• [ ] 42. Set up Google Inactive Account Manager.
• [ ] 43. Set up Facebook Legacy Contact.
• [ ] 44. Install and configure a password manager.
• [ ] 45. Set up emergency access in password manager.
• [ ] 46. Tell one trusted person the master password location.
• [ ] 47. Document phone passcode and storage location.
• [ ] 48. If you own cryptocurrency, document recovery plan (seed phrase location, multi-sig setup, etc.).
• [ ] 49. Document domain names owned.
• [ ] 50. Document online businesses and access information.

Family Communication

• [ ] 51. Have "the conversation" with your adult children about your plans.
• [ ] 52. Tell executor where key documents are.
• [ ] 53. Tell guardian they are nominated (if minor children involved).
• [ ] 54. Have the conversation with your spouse about wishes.
• [ ] 55. Write an ethical will / legacy letter.
• [ ] 56. Consider letters to specific individuals for specific occasions.

Professional Team

• [ ] 57. Engage an estate planning attorney.
• [ ] 58. Engage a CPA (if your estate has tax complexity).
• [ ] 59. Engage a financial advisor (if appropriate).
• [ ] 60. Introduce professionals to each other; encourage coordination.
• [ ] 61. Schedule periodic (annual or 3-year) review meetings.

Tax Planning

• [ ] 62. Understand your federal estate tax exposure.
• [ ] 63. Understand your state estate / inheritance tax exposure.
• [ ] 64. Consider annual exclusion gifting strategy.
• [ ] 65. Consider charitable giving strategy for tax efficiency.
• [ ] 66. If over exemption, explore advanced estate tax strategies (ILITs, GRATs, etc.).
• [ ] 67. Coordinate income tax planning with estate plan.

Insurance

• [ ] 68. Review life insurance adequacy.
• [ ] 69. Review disability insurance.
• [ ] 70. Review long-term care insurance or plan.
• [ ] 71. Update homeowner's insurance.
• [ ] 72. Update auto insurance.
• [ ] 73. Review umbrella liability policy.
• [ ] 74. Ensure policies coordinate with estate plan.

Special Situations

• [ ] 75. If blended family: coordinate plan specifically (QTIP trust, etc.).
• [ ] 76. If special needs heir: special needs trust established.
• [ ] 77. If minor children: guardian and trust for their benefit confirmed.
• [ ] 78. If business owner: buy-sell agreement and succession plan.
• [ ] 79. If substance abuse or financial irresponsibility in family: spendthrift provisions.
• [ ] 80. If pets: pet care plan documented and funded.

Funeral and End-of-Life

• [ ] 81. Write funeral wishes document.
• [ ] 82. Pre-arrange with funeral home (if desired).
• [ ] 83. Specify disposition preference (burial, cremation, donation, etc.).
• [ ] 84. Specify service preferences.
• [ ] 85. Document burial plot or scattering wishes.
• [ ] 86. Consider funeral funding (insurance, pre-payment, savings).

Document Locator

• [ ] 87. Create a "Document Locator" — master list of where everything is.
• [ ] 88. Include original will location.
• [ ] 89. Include trust documents location.
• [ ] 90. Include all insurance policies location.
• [ ] 91. Include all account statements location.
• [ ] 92. Include safe deposit box location and access info.
• [ ] 93. Include attorney, CPA, financial advisor contact info.
• [ ] 94. Include funeral wishes location.
• [ ] 95. Include ethical will location.
• [ ] 96. Include password manager master info.
• [ ] 97. Tell at least two people (executor + backup) where locator is.

Review and Update

• [ ] 98. Review entire estate plan every 5 years.
• [ ] 99. Update after any major life event (marriage, divorce, birth, death, move, significant asset change).
• [ ] 100. Re-read this checklist annually. Check off what's done. Address what's not.

Phase B: Health Crisis Checklist

When you or a family member receives a significant diagnosis or faces decline:

• [ ] Confirm all Phase A items are in place; accelerate anything not done.
• [ ] Update healthcare power of attorney if circumstances changed.
• [ ] Update advance directive to reflect current wishes.
• [ ] Verify HIPAA authorizations are in place for family members.
• [ ] Meet with the estate planning attorney for any needed updates.
• [ ] Have the conversation with healthcare agent about specific wishes.
• [ ] Consider hospice or palliative care early if appropriate.
• [ ] Organize finances for easier access (consolidate accounts, document logins).
• [ ] Complete personal property memorandum if not yet done.
• [ ] Complete ethical will / legacy letter if not yet done.
• [ ] Record video messages to family if desired.
• [ ] Begin family conversations if they haven't happened.
• [ ] Pre-arrange funeral if not done.

Phase C: First Week After a Death Checklist

• [ ] Day 1: Confirm pronouncement of death.
• [ ] Day 1: Contact one designated "communications coordinator" person.
• [ ] Day 1: Select funeral home and arrange body transport.
• [ ] Day 1: Notify immediate family.
• [ ] Day 1: Ensure minor children / dependents are supervised.
• [ ] Day 1: Secure the deceased's home.
• [ ] Day 1: Care for pets.
• [ ] Day 2: Notify employer.
• [ ] Day 2: Begin gathering key documents (will, trust, insurance, etc.).
• [ ] Day 2-3: Plan funeral/memorial service.
• [ ] Day 2-3: Order 10-15 certified death certificates.
• [ ] Day 2-3: Draft obituary.
• [ ] Day 3-4: Notify Social Security.
• [ ] Day 3-4: Contact estate attorney (if one exists).
• [ ] Day 3-5: Service held.
• [ ] Day 5-7: Initiate life insurance claims.
• [ ] Day 5-7: Notify banks and financial institutions.
• [ ] Day 5-7: Set up mail forwarding.
• [ ] Day 5-7: Notify credit card companies.
• [ ] Day 5-7: Notify utilities (transfer or cancel).

Phase D: First Year After Death Checklist

Month 1

• [ ] Engage probate attorney if formal probate is required.
• [ ] File will and petition for probate appointment.
• [ ] Receive letters testamentary (executor authority).
• [ ] Open dedicated estate bank account.
• [ ] Begin estate inventory.
• [ ] Notify all creditors (publish legal notice).
• [ ] Engage CPA for tax planning and returns.
• [ ] Continue communication with beneficiaries.

Months 2-4

• [ ] Complete inventory of all assets.
• [ ] Order appraisals for significant assets (real estate, business interests, collectibles).
• [ ] Document step-up basis for inherited assets.
• [ ] Begin paying estate debts in priority order.
• [ ] Review and accept/reject creditor claims.
• [ ] Continue administering estate property (maintain house, collect income, etc.).
• [ ] Coordinate with financial advisor on asset transitions.

Months 4-8

• [ ] Prepare and file final individual tax return (Form 1040).
• [ ] Prepare and file estate income tax return (Form 1041).
• [ ] Prepare estate tax return (Form 706) if required — even for portability.
• [ ] Sell estate property if decision made to sell.
• [ ] Work with realtor on real estate sales (Chapter 6).
• [ ] Complete personal property division among heirs (Chapter 8).
• [ ] Transfer retirement accounts to beneficiary-inherited IRAs.

Months 8-12

• [ ] Pay remaining debts and taxes.
• [ ] Prepare final accounting of estate.
• [ ] Obtain beneficiary sign-offs on accounting.
• [ ] Make preliminary or final distributions to beneficiaries.
• [ ] Retain records for 7+ years.
• [ ] Close the estate (file closing documents with court).

Phase E: After Estate Closes — Ongoing Checklist

For heirs:

• [ ] Plan inherited IRA distribution strategy (10-year rule).
• [ ] Coordinate with own tax advisor on inherited assets.
• [ ] Document step-up basis for future sales.
• [ ] Decide what to do with inherited real estate, business interests, etc.
• [ ] Update your own estate plan now that you have additional assets.
• [ ] Review and update your own beneficiary designations.
• [ ] Consider whether to rebalance or restructure inherited investments.

For the surviving spouse:

• [ ] Update your own will and trust.
• [ ] Update your own beneficiary designations.
• [ ] Update power of attorney and healthcare directive.
• [ ] Rollover spousal inherited IRA or determine best approach.
• [ ] Apply for Social Security survivor benefits.
• [ ] Review all insurance for continued coverage.
• [ ] Consider updating beneficiaries as your situation changes.

The Document Locator Template

Keep this one-page document with your estate papers. Tell your executor and backup where it is.

DOCUMENT LOCATOR

Last updated: [DATE]

Key documents:

• Original will: [LOCATION]
• Trust documents: [LOCATION]
• Power of attorney: [LOCATION]
• Healthcare directive: [LOCATION]
• Life insurance policies: [LOCATION]
• Safe deposit box: [BANK, BOX NUMBER, KEY LOCATION]

Accounts:

• Bank accounts: [LIST OF INSTITUTIONS]
• Brokerage accounts: [LIST OF INSTITUTIONS]
• Retirement accounts: [LIST OF INSTITUTIONS]
• Life insurance: [LIST OF COMPANIES]

Property:

• Real estate deeds: [LOCATION]
• Vehicle titles: [LOCATION]

Digital:

• Password manager: [WHICH ONE, HOW TO ACCESS MASTER]
• Phone passcode: [LOCATION]
• Crypto recovery info: [LOCATION]

Professionals:

• Attorney: [NAME, CONTACT]
• CPA: [NAME, CONTACT]
• Financial advisor: [NAME, CONTACT]
• Primary care doctor: [NAME, CONTACT]

Special:

• Funeral wishes: [LOCATION]
• Ethical will: [LOCATION]
• Personal property memorandum: [LOCATION]

Other important info:

• Social Security number: [LOCATION, not this sheet]
• Military discharge papers (DD-214): [LOCATION]
• Citizenship/immigration documents: [LOCATION]
• Beneficiary information for accounts: [UPDATED DATE]

Closing thought

If you have worked through Phase A, your family will not face the kind of chaos I have watched so many families face. They will have a plan, a process, and a voice (yours) guiding them through the most disorienting moment of their lives.

That is the gift of planning your passing. Not the estate you leave. The peace you leave.

Turn the page. You made it. Let's end the book.