End of Life Planning Checklist
An end-of-life planning checklist is crucial for organizing your affairs and ensuring all necessary steps are taken in preparation for your eventual passing. This comprehensive list includes decisions about your funeral, estate, finances, and more. MyFamilyPlan provides this capability by incorporating an End of Life Planning Worksheet in the broader workbook.
Why Use An End of Life Planning Checklist?
Often, at the end of our lives, we might not have the capacity to express our wishes. A Funeral Pre Planning checklist and post-mortem letter allows you to create funeral instructions and preferences while also documenting these decisions and any contracted arrangements. Use our Funeral Pre-Planning and burial arrangement checklists to plan your passing, reducing the emotional burden on your family. Specify preferences for burial or cremation, type of service, and any charitable donations in your memory using our pre planning funeral checklist.
- A Last Will and Testament specify who will receive your property, including physical and financial assets. It allows you to name a guardian for minor children and pets and appoint an executor to manage your estate.
- A Revocable Living Trust (RLT) manages and distributes your property, avoiding probate and maintaining privacy. It requires transferring assets to the trust and naming a successor trustee and beneficiaries.
- Beneficiary designations for non-probate assets directly transfer assets like 401(k) accounts and life insurance to beneficiaries. This requires filling out specific beneficiary designation forms from each institution.
- A Durable Financial Power of Attorney (POA) designates someone to handle financial decisions if you’re incapacitated. It ensures management of medical expenses, taxes, and bills, providing continuity for your dependents.
- A Pet Trust plans for the care of your pets, designating a caregiver and possibly setting aside funds for their upkeep. It establishes instructions for the trustee on managing pet care funds.
- A Durable Medical Power of Attorney (POA) chooses someone to make medical decisions on your behalf. This ensures your healthcare wishes are followed if you cannot communicate them yourself.
- A Living Will outlines your healthcare preferences, including treatments and procedures you do or do not want. It is often combined with a medical POA as part of an Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD).
- A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Order and Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) Forms specify wishes about life-saving treatments in declining health. These are created with a doctor to ensure your end of life care preferences are documented.
- End of Life Housing Arrangements plans where you want to live in your final days, considering options like nursing homes or in-home care. Discuss costs and preferences with loved ones to ensure everyone is aligned.
- Instructions for Digital Assets manage digital accounts and assets, including passwords and access details. Name a digital executor to handle online accounts and cryptocurrencies.
Ensuring Your Wishes Are Followed
Utilizing an end of life planning checklist can significantly alleviate the administrative burden on your family, acting as a final gift to your loved ones. By following this checklist, you prevent your family from bearing the burden of these decisions after you’re gone. It facilitates the transition of estate management items to an Executor, Trustee, and Family.
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