Free family preparedness resource
Write down what you want, while it's easy to write down. Your family shouldn't have to guess at the worst possible moment.
A final wishes planner is a single document that records what you want to happen after you die, and where your family can find what they'll need.
It is not a will. A will decides who receives your property, and it has to follow your state's legal rules. A final wishes planner covers everything a will doesn't: the funeral you'd prefer, the people who should be called, the accounts that need closing, the passwords nobody else knows.
Most families discover the gap at the worst time. The will handles the house. Nobody knows whether Dad wanted to be buried or cremated, which of his three bank accounts the mortgage comes out of, or the name of his life insurance company.
That's what this planner is for.
There are nine sections worth filling in. You don't have to do them in order, and you don't have to do them all today.
Burial or cremation. Where you'd like to be buried or your ashes scattered. Whether you want a religious service, and which faith or congregation. Open or closed casket. Who you'd like to speak. Music you'd want played.
Names and phone numbers for family, close friends, your employer, your clergy, and anyone who would want to know but wouldn't automatically be told. This list is the one families most often wish they had.
The company, the policy number, and where the physical policy is kept. A surprising number of life insurance payouts go unclaimed because nobody knew the policy existed.
Banks, credit unions, retirement accounts, brokerage accounts. You do not need to record balances or account numbers here — just where the accounts are, so someone knows to look.
Mortgage or rent, utilities, insurance premiums, subscriptions. Which account each one is paid from. This is what keeps the lights on in the months after.
Where to find the deed, the vehicle titles, the safe deposit box key, the birth and marriage certificates.
Email, phone, social media, cloud photo storage. Note which accounts exist and what you'd want done with each — memorialized, closed, or passed to someone specific.
Who should care for them, and what they'd need to know — the vet's name, a child's medical details, the routine that keeps things normal.
Letters, recordings, or instructions you'd want passed on. This section is optional and it's the one families treasure most.
Some people want a sheet of paper in a folder. Some want something they can update from their phone. Both are legitimate, and they fail in different ways.
The printable planner is a PDF you fill in by hand and keep somewhere your family can find. It never needs a login and it works during a power outage. It also goes out of date the moment you switch banks, and only one person has it.
The online workspace updates in seconds, keeps a record of what changed, and lets you decide who sees which parts. It needs a password and an internet connection.
Most people do both: they build it online, then print a copy for the folder at home.
Step one — start with the funeral section. It's twenty minutes and it removes the decision your family would most dread making. If you stop after this, you've still done the most valuable part.
Step two — add the contact list. Names and numbers only. No research required.
Step three — add insurance and accounts over a week or two. Don't sit down and do this in one session. Add each one as you come across a statement.
Step four — tell someone it exists. A planner nobody knows about is the same as no planner. Tell at least two people where to find it.
Step five — look at it once a year. Pick a date you'll remember. Things change: banks, phone numbers, wishes.
You don't need to be elderly or ill. The people who get the most out of a final wishes planner are:
No. It records your preferences and your information. It does not transfer property, name a guardian, or override a will. If you want legally binding instructions, talk to an attorney about a will or an advance directive. Use this planner alongside those documents, not instead of them.
A will is a legal document about who inherits what. A final wishes planner is a practical document about what you want and where things are. Most wills say nothing about your funeral, your passwords, or who should feed the dog.
Somewhere at least two people can reach without your help. A home safe is fine if someone else knows the combination. A safe deposit box is a common mistake — they are frequently sealed after a death, exactly when the family needs what's inside.
The funeral section takes about twenty minutes. A complete planner usually takes a few hours spread over a couple of weeks. There is no requirement to finish.
Yes, and you should. The online version updates instantly. If you're using the printable, reprint the page you changed and date it.
Your LegacyReady workspace is private to your account. You choose what to share and with whom. Payments are handled by Stripe — we never see your card details.
Nothing to pay, no credit card. Begin with the funeral section — twenty minutes, and the hardest question your family would face is already answered.
LegacyReady Family is an organizational and educational resource. We do not provide legal, financial, tax, or cybersecurity advice. A final wishes planner does not replace a will, trust, advance directive, or any other legal document. Consult a licensed attorney or financial professional about your particular situation.