Gather (or, in some situations, create) important documents to make sure loved ones do not have to worry about making decisions, legal consequences, or searching for documents to allow the transfer of assets and closing of accounts.
Here is a worksheet of important documents to complete for you or on behalf of the person you’re planning for:
- Google Drive Worksheet: Fill out, save, and then share with loved ones.
- PDF to download: Print, fill out, then share with loved ones.
How to handle the documents
For printed records, we recommend keeping all copies of documents in a secure but easily accessible place. Other options include a safety deposit box, or a locked filing cabinet.
For digital records, we recommend using a digital file storage service such as Google Drive or Dropbox.
Make sure to keep a photocopy in a different physical location, so that it is protected in case of natural disaster.
Wherever the documents are stored, make sure to give access to trustworthy people, so that they can easily access them if you’re unable. We recommend considering giving access to a family member, friend, or a trusted professional, such as a doctor, financial advisor, lawyer, or clergy member.
How to find the documents
If you are gathering documents for a family member who does not remember or cannot tell you where the documents are, you can use this guide to find documents, accounts and assets.
The documents that we suggest you gather include:
Most important
- Legal estate plan (will, power of attorney, guardianship, trust)
- Advance Directive / POLST / Living Will / Designated Agent / Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care forms
- Pre-paid funeral contracts (if applicable)
- Pre-paid cemetery contracts (if applicable)
- Letters of Instruction / Final Instructions / Disposition Authorization
- Organ donation (if applicable)
Legal
- Marriage and Divorce Certificate(s)
- Social Security Card or number
- Birth certificates of family members
- Court documents for adoptions and divorces (including property settlement agreements, name changes, and prenuptial agreements)
- Drivers license
- Passport, citizenship, and immigration papers
Tax
- Income Tax Returns – federal and state for the past three years
- Gift Tax Returns – federal and state
- Property tax returns
- Business documents – if the deceased owned a business: Corporate, LLC or Partnership Documents, account statements, contracts, business licenses, income tax returns
Veterans
- Military service papers, including discharge records (call 314-801-0800)
Financial Assets
- Bank accounts (checking, savings, CD), investment/brokerage account statements
- Retirement account (IRA, 401[k], annuity, money market, CDs, custody, managed) statements
- Stock and Bond certificates – For stocks or bonds held in certificate form, the original certificate will be required to transfer legal title
- Benefit papers – survivor annuity, employer retirement/pension, veterans benefit, disability
- Any promissory notes/loans owed by or to you or the person you’re planning for
- Any business accounts or loans
Real estate, vehicles, and physical property
- Real estate deeds & any recent appraisals (residential, partial holding, REIT, etc.)
- Mortgage documents including promissory / loan notes
- List of safety deposit boxes, where to find keys, and names of authorized users
- Storage facilities
- Document storage office/professional storage
- Vehicle titles and registrations (cars, boats, RVs, etc.)
- Locations of any other valuable/special personal items (collectibles, coins, jewelry, antiques, sentimental items)
Insurance
- Life Insurance, Life Insurance Annuity, and / or accidental death
- Health insurance (Medicare or Medicaid, private, dental, long term care)
- Homeowners/renters
- Auto insurance
- Workers’ compensation insurance
- Veterans’ insurance
- Employers or pension insurance
- Funeral/final expense insurance
- Mortgage and / or credit insurance
- Credit card insurance
Bills & leases
- Utility Bills (water, trash, gas, electricity, sewage)
- Cell Phone Bills
- Real Estate Tax Bills
- Storage Unit Bills
- Medical Bills
- Real estate lease
- Automobile lease
- Memberships
- Credit cards
Digital
- Usernames and passwords for online accounts (email, financial, social media)
- Usernames/passwords/PINs to access computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices
If you are missing a key document, you can find guidance on how to complete it here:
