Navigating End-of-Life Care for a Loved One

Final planning for yourself or a loved one

Important details on getting affairs in order

  • Decide whether you need an estate planner. Find out what your state allows for transferring property.
  • Choose your "fiduciaries," the people that will handle your financial and medical affairs if you are unable. A Durable Power of Attorney allows someone to act on your behalf and make legal decisions.
  • Make sure bank accounts are current with primary information and have direct beneficiaries. In most cases, a beneficiary need only go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own.  If heirs are not beneficiaries on accounts, then accounts can't be closed even with a death certificate. Talk with your banking institution about your wishes and allow them to help you.
  • Make a list of all property assets, bank accounts, investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to when and how these are paid. Some of these will need to be handled through an estate account, transferred, and/or closed. 

  • Funeral Planning Declaration:  allows one to say exactly one’s wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services. Picking a funeral home and making arrangements beforehand can save families confusion and stress while grieving. Note: some choices, such as that of cremation, can require next of kin to sign off on them, even when the patient has made that wish known.

  • Organize important documents and Information:

    • Life insurance policies
    • Last Will and Testament
    • Medical insurance card and list of medications and pharmacies
    • Birth certificate
    • Social security card
    • Marriage certificate
    • Military records
    • Copy of your driver’s license
    • Titles to vehicles
    • Password list for all relevant online accounts
    • Vaccination records
    • Location of important keys and combos
    • Copy of your passport
    • Citizenship papers/work permit
    • Adoption papers
    • Christmas card list
    • Divorce decree or prenuptial agreement
    • Tax returns