Are you looking for an end-of-life planning checklist that won’t leave you feeling overwhelmed? Here are some key points often included in a “Peace of Mind Checklist” for end-of-life planning, which often includes (but is not limited to) funeral arrangements.
End-of-Life Planning Checklist
End-of-life planning can help you plan your financial affairs, medical care, and funeral or memorial service. Please note that it’s important to have end-of-life arrangements as you advance in age, if you have been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness, or will soon be entering an assisted living facility. Here’s a basic end-of-life plan checklist.
Common Documents Found in an End-of-Life Plan
- Last will and testament and estate planning documents
- Health care power of attorney (health care proxy)
- List of financial assets, accounts, and passwords
- Legal documents
- Funeral arrangements
Will and estate planning
Create or update your will to outline how your assets will be distributed. Consider setting up trusts if needed. Designate beneficiaries for retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other assets. This document must be in place to prevent your children or other survivors from going through the probate process, which can be timely and expensive.
Healthcare directives
A medical power of attorney is an important legal document to include in your end-of-life file. Prepare advance directives such as a living will and durable power of attorney for healthcare. These documents specify your healthcare preferences regarding medical treatments and appoint someone to make medical decisions on any life-sustaining treatment on your behalf if you cannot do so.
Financial accounts and passwords
Compile a list of your bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance policies, and digital assets. Include login credentials for online accounts and instructions for accessing these accounts. Make sure a family member is listed on your accounts.
Legal documents
Ensure you have important legal documents in place, such as a durable power of attorney for finances, a living trust, and a letter of instruction detailing your wishes for future decisions. Include other important certificates, such as birth or marriage certificates (or a domestic partnership agreement).
End-of-life care preferences and living will
Discuss your preferences for end-of-life care with your loved ones and healthcare providers. This may include decisions about life support, resuscitation, and palliative care. In addition, if you wish to donate organs or tissues after your passing, make sure to register as an organ donor and inform your family of your decision.
Funeral arrangements and burial instructions
Document your preferences for funeral arrangements, including burial arrangements or cremation, service details, and any specific wishes regarding your final resting place.
It’s important to review your final arrangements, as circumstances change periodically. We know many people feel uncomfortable with this process, but it is the right thing to do. Your adult children or other survivors will thank you for it!
If you have chosen cremation as your method of disposition, seek the help of Smart Cremation to record your final wishes. Smart Cremation representatives will help you with the planning process. Your family members will thank you for pre-arranging your own services. (Some people even write their own obituary and death notice!)
Smart Cremation offers simple, affordable, direct cremation services in California, Washington, Oregon, Texas, Arizona, Florida, and Nevada. We will help you save up to 44% on funeral costs and ensure that your personal preferences will be followed. Planning ahead? Contact us today to record your funeral preferences with Smart Cremation.
