What Should Be Included in a Letter of Last Instruction?
- What To Do First. A guide of immediate steps to take after your death may be provided here. This information may include who to notify, the funeral home of your choice, contact information for family and close friends, information for your estate attorney and close advisors, and arrangements for the care of dependents or pets.
- Personal Information. This information provides your personal details such as full legal name, date of birth, and other identifying information.
- Important Contacts. Contact information for close personal contacts and important professionals like your accountant, financial advisor, employer, and executor should be provided. This allows family members or your executor to know who should be notified of your death.
- Funeral & Burial Preferences. This information is not to take the place of your funeral or burial wishes that may be detailed in your will or trust but may be used to support that information with more details of what type of service or burial you may want. This section may include the funeral home of your choice, information about a preneed funeral or insurance policy, or location of a cemetery plot.
- Financial Accounts & Insurance. Tracking down account and insurance information after a death can be daunting for your fiduciary, whether that be your executor or trustee. Having this information in one document is immeasurably helpful for that person.
- Digital Accounts. A listing of what digital accounts you have assists your legal fiduciary in disabling or deleting these accounts. Your loved ones or executor may not access your online or digital accounts after your death without proper legal authority often in the form of a probate letter or court order. Each service provider has its own policies and procedures for accessing deceased accounts. Even with legal authority, the level of access may be limited, especially for sensitive information like email content or social media posts.
- Pets. Care instructions for your pet(s) is one of the best things to detail as you have known your pet presumably for most of its life. It can include information like its breed, microchip number, special needs, and veterinary details.
Is a Letter of Last Instruction Legally Binding?
No, this letter is not a legal document. It should not take the place of your will or trust. Rather, the letter of last instruction is informal. The informality is a strength in that you can update it easily, and it can include personal guidance that legal documents typically cannot.
Where Do I Keep It?
Your letter of last instruction may contain sensitive or confidential information and, therefore, should be kept in a safe place that your executor or trusted family member can access upon your death. Keeping it with your estate planning documents is a good rule of thumb. Remember to update your executor or trustee on where these documents can be found.
Four Reasons to Complete a Letter of Last Instruction
- Reduce Stress for Loved Ones. During a time of grieving, a letter of last instruction provides clarity during a normally chaotic time. It helps your family know exactly what to do and what professionals to reach out to and rely on.
- Provide Immediate Guidance. Legal documents like a will may not be immediately available or easy to interpret. While you should maintain your letter of last instruction in a safe place or password protected file, your executor or trusted loved one should know how to locate or access it. In doing so, they will receive immediate instruction from you on what to do – such as funeral planning and contacting your estate attorney.
- Give Practical Information. As a non-legal document, your letter of last instruction can cover practical items that your will or trust won’t. You may know where things are or where you keep certain important information, but your trusted loved ones or fiduciaries won’t necessarily have access to or know that information. This letter fills gaps and provides personal and account information to your fiduciaries.
- Efficiency of Managing Your Estate. Having all your important and personal information in one document is a gift to your fiduciary, whether that is the executor of your will or trustee of your trust. While a will or trust gives legally binding instructions, the letter of last instruction gives information for your executor to help locate your assets, know details of your financial accounts, and have the contact information of your family. Having these details condensed to one document streamlines the process of settling your estate, resulting in faster collection and distribution of assets.
Final Thoughts: Why a Letter of Last Instruction Is a Smart Estate Planning Move
A letter of last instruction is one of the most thoughtful and practical things you can leave behind. It doesn’t replace legal documents—but it offers guidance, comfort, and clarity to those who are handling your affairs, and it rounds out a comprehensive estate plan. A small effort now can save your loved ones a great deal of confusion and stress later.
Ready to Create Your Letter of Last Instruction?
Interested in organizing your personal and practical estate details? Request a general letter of last instruction template to help guide your process by emailing your advisor or replying to this email. This template is for informational use only and should be reviewed with your attorney or estate planner.
Disclosures: This material is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute legal, tax, investment, or other professional advice, and should not be relied upon as such. The information provided is general in nature and may not apply to your individual circumstances. Readers should consult with a qualified estate planning attorney, tax professional, or financial advisor before making any decisions based on the content of this article. The “letter of last instruction” discussed herein is not a legal document and does not replace a valid will, trust, or other legally binding estate planning documents. While it can serve as a useful tool to supplement your estate plan, it carries no legal authority and should be reviewed with an attorney to ensure it aligns with your broader estate planning goals. The template offered is for general guidance only and should be customized and reviewed in consultation with your legal or estate planning professional. Howe & Rusling does not provide legal or tax advice and does not serve in a fiduciary capacity with respect to estate execution, trust administration, or probate matters. Howe & Rusling is an investment adviser registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any specific level of skill or training. Investments and estate planning strategies involve risk, including the potential loss of principal. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Any references to third-party websites or content are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by Howe & Rusling.
