A Letter of Last Instruction: Everybody Needs

CIS 958

A letter of last instruction: Everybody needs one A letter of last instruction is an organized way You probably won’t be able to write the letter for you to give your family all the facts about your all at once. Try tackling it one section at a time, finances—and have a basic tool for your own allowing yourself a month or so to complete it. The money management. object is to get as much detail down on paper as A letter isn’t a will or a substitute for one. A will you possibly can. is a legal document telling an executor how to dis- Some additional pointers: pose of property and personal effects. Attorneys • While it is usually addressed to a spouse or rela- describe the letter as a personal document, usually tive, the letter should also be clear to any third written to a member of the family. person who may have to find and work with The letter does two big jobs: your papers. 1. It outlines the location of all your important • Be specific about locations—“in my safe deposit papers; and box’’ or “in the bottom left-hand drawer of my 2. It contains information about your personal de- desk’’ or “in the blue file of the basement file sires—how you would like your personal affairs cabinet.’’ handled when you die or are incapacitated. • If you have certain special wishes, for instance People often put off writing the letter. It is, about the education of your children or the care frankly, a big job of organizing and detail gather- of your pet, be sure to add these sections to the ing. The worksheet pages in this publication are worksheet. for you to fill in, as applicable. The worksheet can • You can use the worksheet as a checklist or fill serve as a model for writing a complete and or- in the blanks. Consider attaching copies of docu- derly letter of last instruction. ments you reference. You should write the letter to the person most Once your letter is complete, make several cop- likely to take over your accounts. Generally, this ies of it. Send one to your attorney or executor, means you would address the letter to your clip another to your copy of your will, and keep spouse, adult child, or other relative or to your one copy in the place your family would look first. attorney or other executor. You may choose to go Update your letter periodically. This is much easier over the letter with a family member or close than writing the first letter. friend. Couples can prepare the letter together.

Topic Section no. Topic Section no. Topic Section no. Attorney...... 2 Income tax returns ...... 14 Personal effects...... 19 Cemetery information ...... 22 Investments ...... 13 Personal papers ...... 3 Checking accounts ...... 5 Lease...... 16 Pets...... 20 Credit cards...... 11 Life insurance ...... 8 Safe deposit box...... 7 Doctors/physicians...... 17 Living will ...... 3 Savings accounts Durable power of attorney ...... 3 Loans...... 12 and certificates of deposit ...... 4 First things to do ...... 2 Money you can expect ...... 1 Social Security...... 1,6 Funeral preferences...... 23 Other insurance Special wishes...... 21 House...... 16 (homeowner’s and auto)...... 9 Veterans’ benefits ...... 1,16 People to inform ...... 18 Warranties ...... 15

Cooperative Extension System o Agricultural Experiment1 Station 1 Money you can expect

From my employer Name of employer ______Person to contact ______Phone ______Life insurance ______Profit sharing ______Accident insurance ______Pension plan ______Thrift saving plan ______Unused annual and sick leave ______Other employee benefits ______

From insurance companies Name of company ______Person to contact ______Phone ______Total amount ______

Name of company ______Person to contact ______Phone ______Total amount ______

From Social Security (1-800-772-1213)

Lump sum (if eligible) ————Yes ————No Monthly benefit ______

From Veterans’ Administration (You must contact VA to receive benefits) ______

From other sources ______

2 First things to do 2

Call friend, neighbor, or relative (name) ______(phone) ______Notify my employer (name) ______(phone) ______Call my attorney (name) ______(phone) ______Make arrangements with funeral home ______(see section 22) Request several certified copies of the death certificate. Contact Social Security office. Get and process insurance policies. Notify bank that holds home mortgage.

Location of personal papers 3

Write in the locations of the following personal papers. Cross out the items that do not apply to you.

Birth and baptismal certificates ______Communion and confirmation certificates ______Divorce decree ______Durable power of attorney ______Inventory of personal property ______Inventory of contents of safe deposit box ______Last will and testament ______Living will ______Marriage certificate ______Military records ______Naturalization papers ______School diplomas ______Other (adoption papers, etc.) ______

3 4 Savings accounts and certificates of deposit

Fill in the following information for each account.

Bank ______Address ______Type of account ______Name(s) on account ______Type of ownership ______Account number ______Location of passbook ______Any special instructions ______

5 Checking accounts

Fill in the following information for each account.

Bank ______Address ______Type of account ______Name(s) on account ______Type of ownership ______Account number ______Location of canceled checks and statements ______Any special instructions ______

4 Social Security 6

Social Security number ______Location of card ______Other names under which you had ______Social Security earnings reported ______

Safe deposit box 7

Bank ______Address ______Box number ______In whose name(s) ______Location of key(s) ______Location of a list of contents ______(or attach a list of contents to this letter)

Life insurance 8

Fill in the information below for each policy.

Location of all policies ______

To collect benefits, a certified copy of the death certificate may be required by each company.

Policy number ______Whose life is insured ______Company ______Company address ______Name of agent ______Kind of policy ______Beneficiary ______Cash value ______Issue date ______Maturity date ______How it is paid out ______Other payout options ______

5 9 Other insurance

Accident insurance Coverage ______Company ______Address ______Policy number ______Beneficiary ______Location of policy ______Agent, if any ______

Auto insurance Coverage ______Company ______Address ______Policy number ______Location of policy ______Term (when to renew) ______Agent, if any ______

Homeowner’s insurance Coverage ______Company ______Address ______Policy number ______Location of policy ______Term (when to renew) ______Agent, if any ______

6 Other insurance (cont’d) 9

Medical insurance Coverage ______Company ______Address ______Policy number ______Location of policy ______Term (when to renew) ______Agent, if any ______

Mortgage insurance Company ______Address ______Policy number ______Location of policy ______

Car 10

Fill in the following information for each car.

Year, make, and model ______Body type ______License number ______Identification number ______Location of title ______

7 11 Credit cards

All credit cards should be canceled or converted to the name remaining on joint accounts.

Location of cards ______

Fill in the following information for each card.

Company ______Phone ______Name(s) on card ______Account number ______

8 Loans outstanding (other than mortgage) 12

Fill in the following information for each loan.

Bank or mortgage holding company ______Address ______Name(s) on loan ______Account number ______Monthly payment ______Location of papers ______Collateral, if any ______Life insurance on loan _____ Yes ______No

9 13 Investments

Fill in the following information for each investment.

Stocks Company ______Name on certificate(s) ______Number of shares ______Certificate number(s) ______Purchase price and date ______Location of certificates ______

Company ______Name on certificate(s) ______Number of shares ______Certificate number(s) ______Purchase price and date ______Location of certificates ______

Bonds/notes/bills Issuer ______Issued to ______Face amount ______Bond number ______Purchase price and date ______Maturity date ______Location of certificate ______

Issuer ______Issued to ______Face amount ______Bond number ______Purchase price and date ______Maturity date ______Location of certificate ______

10 Income tax returns 14

Location of all previous returns (federal, state, local) ______Name of tax preparer ______Address ______Phone ______

Important warranties, receipts 15

Names of items and locations of documents ______

House, condominium, cooperative 16

In whose name(s) ______Address ______Lot ______Block ______On map called ______

Other descriptions ______The attorney at closing ______Location of statement of closing, policy of title ______insurance, deed, land survey, appraisal, inspection, etc.

Mortgage Held by ______Amount of original mortgage ______Date mortgage taken out ______Amount owed now ______Method of payment ______Location of payment ______Life insurance on mortgage _____ Yes _____ No

11 16 House, condominium, cooperative (cont’d)

Veterans’ exemption claim Location of documentation papers ______Annual amount ______Contact local tax assessor for documentation needed or more information.

Property taxes Amount ______Location of receipts ______

Cost of house Initial buying price ______Purchase closing fee ______Other costs to buy (real estate agent, ______legal fees, etc.) Improvements as of ______total $ ______

Itemized house improvements Improvement ______Cost ______Location of bills ______

If renting Lease _____ Yes _____ No Lease expires (date) ______Landlord’s name ______Landlord’s phone number ______

12 Doctors/physicians 17

Doctor/physician Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Dentist Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Pediatrician Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Children’s dentist Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Specialists Name ______Address ______Phone ______

13 18 Relatives, friends to inform

Name ______Address ______Phone ______

14 Personal effects 19

I would like certain people to be given these personal effects:

Item Person ______

Pets 20

Veterinarian Name ______Address ______Phone ______Special dietary needs ______Person(s) who will care for pet(s) Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Name ______Address ______Phone ______

Special wishes 21

______

15 22 Cemetery and funeral

Cemetery plot Location ______When purchased ______Deed number ______Location of deed ______Choice of location to be buried ______

Facts for funeral director This information and cemetery plot deed should be given to funeral director.

My full name ______Residence ______Marital status ______Spouse ______Date of birth______Birthplace ______Father’s name and birthplace ______Mother’s maiden name ______Length of residence in state ______In USA ______Military service Yes _____ No_____ When ______Social Security number ______

23 Funeral preferences

My choice of funeral home (if any) ______Type of funeral preferred ______Other (cremation or other instructions) ______

The author—Linda K. Fox, former Extension family economics specialist, Margaret Ritchie School of Home Economics, University of Idaho, Moscow.

Acknowledgment—The author gratefully ac- knowledges input provided by Marsha Goetting, Montana State University; Darlene Moss, Univer- sity of Idaho; and Diane Schmerbauch, Univer- Updated______sity of Idaho. (today’s date)

Issued in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, LeRoy D. Luft, Director of Cooperative Extension System, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83843. We offer educational programs, activities, and materials without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability, in accordance with state and federal laws. 2,000 9-92 75 cents