What is a letter of last instructions?

A letter of last instructions (also called a letter of instruction, personal instruction letter, or letter to family) is an informal document — not legally binding — that tells your family exactly what to do and where to find things after you die. Unlike a will, it requires no witnesses, no attorney, and no notary. It's written in plain language and covers practical matters: funeral preferences, where important documents are stored, account information, digital access, and any personal messages to loved ones.

Is a letter of last instructions legally binding?

No. A letter of last instructions is not a legal document and is not legally binding. It cannot override your will or change how assets are distributed. Think of it as a companion to your will — it handles the practical, day-to-day instructions your family needs immediately, while the will handles the legal distribution of assets. Because it's informal, it's much easier to write and update than legal estate documents.

Where should I keep a letter of last instructions?

Your letter of last instructions should be easy for your family to locate. Good options: in your home filing cabinet or fireproof safe (where your trusted contact knows to look), with your estate attorney alongside your will, in a digital estate organizer with access instructions for your executor, or in a sealed envelope with a label that reads 'Read if something happens to me.' Avoid keeping it somewhere that requires probate to access, like a bank safe deposit box in your name only.

Estate Planning15 min read • June 10, 2026

Letter of Last Instructions: What It Is, What to Write, and a Fill-In Template

Your will is a legal document. It tells the court who gets your assets. But it says almost nothing about what your family should actually do in the first 48 hours.

A letter of last instructions is the other document — the plain-language companion to your will that covers the practical stuff: who to call, where the insurance is, what to do with your Facebook account, what you want at your funeral.

It requires no attorney. No notary. No witnesses. You write it yourself, store it somewhere accessible, and update it whenever something changes.

Below is a complete fill-in template — all 8 sections. You can type it out, print it, or use it as a guide to build a digital version. The important thing is that you write it.

Your Will...

→ Legally binding
→ Requires witnesses and/or notary
→ Goes through probate — takes months
→ Controls asset distribution
→ Becomes public record

This Letter...

✓ Not legally binding (no attorney needed)
✓ Write it yourself, update anytime
✓ Available the day you die — no waiting
✓ Covers the day-to-day practical stuff
✓ Completely private

The Template

Copy this structure into a document and fill in your information. Print it, store it, and tell one person where to find it.

SECTION 1: WHO I AM

Full legal name:________________________________

Date of birth:________________________________

Social Security number:Stored securely at: ________________

Current address:________________________________

Date this letter was written:________________________________

This section establishes basic identification. Your SSN should not be written in full here unless this document is stored in a secure location.

SECTION 2: IMMEDIATE CONTACTS

My executor is:________________________________

Executor phone:________________________________

My estate attorney:________________________________

Attorney phone:________________________________

My financial advisor:________________________________

Advisor phone:________________________________

My CPA / tax preparer:________________________________

Three people to notify first:

1._________________________ Phone: ___________

2._________________________ Phone: ___________

3._________________________ Phone: ___________

Your executor takes legal responsibility for administering the estate. The three 'call first' people are whoever you'd want personally notified before it spreads — close family, a best friend.

SECTION 3: WHERE MY IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS ARE

Original will:Location: ____________________________

Trust documents (if any):Location: ____________________________

Life insurance policies:Location: ____________________________

Retirement account statements:Location: ____________________________

Property deeds:Location: ____________________________

Vehicle titles:Location: ____________________________

Birth certificate:Location: ____________________________

Passport:Location: ____________________________

Marriage certificate:Location: ____________________________

Military records (if applicable):Location: ____________________________

Safe deposit box:Bank: ________________ Key location: _______

The goal of this section isn't to list contents — it's to make a map. Your family is looking for these documents in the days after your death. This section is the map.

SECTION 4: MY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS

Primary bank (checking):________________________________

Savings bank:________________________________

Investment / brokerage:________________________________

Retirement accounts (list type and institution):

Account 1:Type: _____ Institution: ______________

Account 2:Type: _____ Institution: ______________

Mortgage lender:________________________________

Other loans (auto, personal, student):________________________________

Credit cards (bank name only):________________________________

List institution names only — not account numbers or PINs. Account numbers can be found on statements; this section is just the roadmap for where to look.

SECTION 5: LIFE INSURANCE

Life insurance company:________________________________

Policy number:________________________________

Agent name and phone:________________________________

Policy documents stored at:________________________________

Employer life insurance (if applicable):________________________________

HR contact for employer policy:________________________________

Other policies:________________________________

This is the section most families wish they had. Write it now.

SECTION 6: DIGITAL ACCOUNTS AND ACCESS

Primary email address:________________________________

Phone PIN:Stored at: _________________________

Password manager app name:________________________________

Password manager master password location:________________________________

Social media — my wishes:

Facebook:□ Memorialize □ Delete

Instagram:□ Memorialize □ Delete

LinkedIn:□ Memorialize □ Delete

Email Apple ID / Google Account note:________________________________

Subscriptions to cancel immediately:________________________________

Your primary email is the master key — resetting passwords on most accounts requires access to email. Write it here.

SECTION 7: FUNERAL AND FINAL WISHES

Burial or cremation:□ Burial □ Cremation □ No preference

Preferred funeral home:________________________________

Pre-arranged funeral plan:□ Yes — Company: ___________________

Religious service:□ Yes □ No □ Small family gathering only

Church or officiant preference:________________________________

Preferred readings or songs:________________________________

Organ donation:□ Yes (on driver's license) □ No □ Yes (add to record)

Charitable memorial gifts (instead of flowers):________________________________

Burial location preference:________________________________

Pet care:Please contact: ____________________

Your family will be grieving when they need to make these decisions. The more specific you are here, the less they have to guess.

SECTION 8: PERSONAL MESSAGES

Letters stored at: ________________________________

Note: I have written letters to the following people and they are attached / stored at the location above:

□ ______________________________
□ ______________________________
□ ______________________________

This section has no template. Write letters — to your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your executor. They are stored here or elsewhere (note the location below). These are the words your family will keep forever.

Where to Store It

The worst place to keep a letter of last instructions is somewhere your family can't find it. Here are the best options:

✓

Fireproof home safe or filing cabinet

Best if someone you trust knows where it is and how to open it.

✓

With your estate attorney

They'll store it alongside your will and provide access to your executor when the time comes.

✓

Digital estate organizer (encrypted)

Accessible from anywhere, can't burn or flood, and can be shared securely with family members in other states.

✓

Sealed envelope labeled 'Read if something happens to me — [Your Name]'

Give to your executor or a trusted friend to hold.

One critical step: Update it regularly.

A letter of last instructions from five years ago is better than nothing. But a lot changes in five years — bank accounts, phone numbers, policies, wishes. Review it once a year and after any major life event. A quick annual update takes about 20 minutes.

🗂️ The "In Case I'm Gone" Binder 📄 Letter of Instruction Guide 💔 What to Do When a Parent Dies ✅ Estate Planning Checklist

Write it once. Keep it current.

mylifeledger.com is a structured digital version of this letter — organized, encrypted, and accessible to your family when they need it. No binder to lose. No pages to go stale.

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