End of Life Planning: A Financial Checklist
It’s not always an easy thing to think about. But one of the kindest, most practical gifts you can leave your family is clarity.
When someone dies, their loved ones are often left piecing everything together — accounts, passwords, insurance policies, paperwork in drawers, subscriptions that keep charging, investments nobody knew about. It can take months (sometimes years) to sort out.
By getting financially organised in advance, you make it much easier for those you leave behind. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to cover every possible scenario. But even a simple list can remove a huge amount of stress later.
Here’s a straightforward checklist to help you get started.
1️⃣ Bank accounts
List all bank accounts (personal, joint, savings, business).
Note down the bank name, account numbers, and how the accounts are used.
Include any online-only accounts or savings apps.
Check who is named on each account (important for estate administration later).
2️⃣ Credit cards, loans and debts
List all credit cards, personal loans, store cards, and outstanding debts.
Include balances, lenders, account numbers, and repayment terms.
Note whether debts are secured (e.g. tied to a house or car) or unsecured.
3️⃣ Property and real estate
Record any properties owned, full addresses, and ownership details (joint, sole ownership, etc.).
Include information on mortgages or home equity loans.
Make a note of where property deeds are stored.
4️⃣ Pensions, retirement accounts and superannuation
List all pension providers or retirement funds.
Include policy numbers, contact details and current balances if available.
Check and update beneficiary nominations — many pension schemes allow funds to pass outside the estate if a beneficiary is named.
5️⃣ Insurance policies
Life insurance
Health, medical or long-term care insurance
Property or home insurance
Auto or vehicle policies
Travel insurance
Any other cover you may have
Include policy numbers, providers, and where paperwork can be found.
6️⃣ Investments and savings
Stock portfolios
Investment accounts
ISAs, RRSPs, 401(k)s, or other country-specific savings schemes
Crypto or digital assets
Certificates of deposit, bonds or treasury notes
Include account details, providers, and access information.
7️⃣ Income sources
Employment income
Business income
Rental income from properties
Dividends or interest payments
Royalties or licensing income
Keeping a simple list helps when preparing final tax returns later.
8️⃣ Utilities, subscriptions and memberships
Electricity, gas, water
Internet, mobile phone, TV
Streaming services, software subscriptions, online accounts
Club memberships, loyalty programmes
Magazine or newspaper subscriptions
Note providers, account numbers, and payment methods. This helps relatives cancel payments efficiently.
9️⃣ Legal documents and professional contacts
Will and any trusts
Power of attorney documents
Funeral wishes or prepaid plans
Accountant, financial adviser, solicitor or attorney contact details
Safe deposit boxes or storage facilities
Include where documents are stored and who to contact for help.
1️⃣0️⃣ Digital accounts
Email accounts
Cloud storage
Social media
Photo storage
Domain names or websites
Password managers
List providers and consider leaving secure instructions on how to access these accounts if appropriate.
Use a simple system to stay organised
This can feel like a long list — but breaking it down makes it very manageable. And you don’t need complicated software or formal estate plans to get started.
That’s exactly why I created the Before Death Spreadsheet — a simple end of life planning spreadsheet. It’s a clear way to gather this kind of information in one place, so that your loved ones won’t be left searching through drawers or guessing what accounts exist.
Even if you update it once a year, you’ll be leaving a huge head start.
A final thought
You don’t have to have everything perfectly organised to make a real difference. Just creating a clear list of what you own, what you owe, and where things are can remove huge amounts of stress for your family when the time comes.
And once you’ve started, you’ll likely feel a quiet sense of relief knowing it’s no longer all sitting in your head.
