A letter of last instructions is an informal document and one of the first things your family will need to locate after your death. You don’t need an attorney to prepare it. The purpose of this letter is to give your personal representative or family member information concerning important personal and financial matters. Although this letter does not carry the legal weight of a will, it is very important because it clarifies requests to be carried out upon your death and provides essential information, thereby relieving the surviving family members of needless worry and speculation. Your heirs will be grateful for this information.
When writing your letter of last instructions use the following list as a guide and provide in detail, such information as names, addresses and telephone numbers.
Notification
Prepare a list of people to notify of your death. Include family members, acquaintances, and organizations. Also include professionals: your accountant, attorney, broker, employer, executor, financial institutions, insurance agents, newspapers to receive obituary information, Social Security Office (include Social Security Number and location of Social Security card), and veterans administration if appropriate.
Funeral Arrangements
Describe the arrangements you have already made and those that your family must make.
Specify your wishes on the following: Organ donations, autopsy if requested, embalming, public viewing, burial type, and cost. Remains are they to be donated (detail of arrangements made), cremated (and the ashes: scattered, buried at, disposed of as follows [provide details]), or buried. Type of service and where, specify memorial gifts or flowers. If prearrangements have been made give details.
Include the number of death certificates that will be needed to collect insurance and other benefits usually 6 to 12.
Put together information the funeral director will need such as your full name, address, marital status, spouse’s name, date of birth, birthplace, father’s and mother’s name and birthplaces, name of next of kin (other than spouse), length of residence in state and in United States, military records/history, Social Security number, occupation, and life insurance information.
Personal Papers
In your letter give the location of all of your personal documents including your will; birth, baptismal, and marriage certificates; communion and confirmation certificates; diplomas; military papers; naturalization papers; and any other documents such as divorce or adoption papers.
Insurance
List all of your insurance policies by type (life, auto, home, veteran’s medical, and credit life), company name and address, policy number and insurance agent. Don’t forget insurance policies through your employer and/or financial institution. Include a description of any loans that you have taken out against a policy and not yet repaid. Also include the location of each policy.
Personal Effects
Provide a list of your personal effects and who is to receive each. Include such detail as to who is to receive your golf clubs, gold watch and clothes. It is better to have these in a letter than in the will.
Household Contents
List the contents of your house and name of owners, form of ownership and location of documents, inventory, and appraisals.
Automobiles
Tell where the registration and other papers for your automobiles and other titled property may be found.
Taxes
Include in your letter of last instructions the location of your income tax returns for the past five years.
Boxes
Be sure to give the location of your safe deposit box, a list of the contents, and where the key is located. Also provide the location and number of any post office boxes that you have. Tell where the key(s) or the combination of the box(s) may be found.
Credit Cards
List your credit cards by issuer and by card number. Request a copy of “Credit Card Safety Record” from your local county extension office to make this task easier or download from the web.
Homeowner Records
Give the location of the deed and mortgage papers on all property that you own. Provide information on taxes, liens, leases, etc.
Investments
Make a list of all stocks, bonds, and other securities by certificate number, issuers, and cost. Tell where the documents are located, identify stockbrokers with name, address, and telephone numbers.
Trusts
Make a list of all the trust that you have established. Give the name, address of the trustee, and identify the type and size of the trust.
Loans
List all loans and other accounts that you must repay. Give full information on terms, payments, collateral, and etc.
Bank Accounts
List all your checking and savings accounts by name and institution, address of the office where the account is located, the type of account and the account number. Include the location of canceled checks and statements.
Debts Owed You
Make a list of all the debts owed to you; include full name, address and telephone number of the debtor, payment terms, collateral, etc.
Survivor’s Benefits
List possible sources of benefits such as Social Security, veteran’s, employee, fraternal association, and credit life insurance. Include how much to expect from each source.
Other
Provide the location of receipts, warranties, and other miscellaneous papers. Explain any unusual provisions of the will, such as disinheritance of a child or forgiveness of a debt.
Write your letter clearly so that even a stranger could understand it. Also be sure that your letter does not contradict your will. If you are in doubt, check with your attorney. Since this letter describes your finances in detail give a copy of the letter to your personal representative. Be sure to sign and date your letter of last instructions and keep it separate from your will.
Written by: Dr. Jo Turner, Professor, Family and Consumer Economics
