🌿 This checklist covers everything you need to get in order. You do not have to do it all at once. Work through it at your own pace. Every item you complete is a gift to your family.
✅ End-of-Life Planning Checklist
0 of 24 items completed
📜 Legal Documents
Legal
I have made a valid Will
A Will is a legal document that says who gets your belongings after you die. Without one, the law decides — which may not match your wishes. Must be signed by two witnesses who are not beneficiaries.
Legal
My Will is stored safely and someone knows where it is
Keep your original Will with a solicitor, in a fireproof safe, or with your bank. Tell your executor exactly where it is. A Will that cannot be found is as bad as no Will at all.
Legal
I have appointed an Executor
An Executor is the person who carries out the instructions in your Will. Choose someone organised and trustworthy. Tell them they are your Executor. They do not have to be a family member.
Legal
I have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
An EPA lets a trusted person manage your financial and personal affairs if you become unable to do so yourself. This is separate from a Will. Critically important — set it up before you need it.
Legal
I have an Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will)
This document states your wishes for medical treatment if you cannot speak for yourself — for example, whether you want life support in certain situations. Also called a Living Will. Can be changed at any time.
Legal
I have reviewed my Will in the past 5 years
Major life changes (marriage, divorce, having children, significant assets) should trigger a Will review. It is recommended to review every 5 years regardless.
💰 Financial & Practical
Important
I have a list of all my accounts, policies, and assets
Bank accounts, savings, pension, investments, life insurance, property, valuable possessions. Store this list securely and tell your executor where it is. Without this, families often miss assets entirely.
Important
My beneficiary designations are up to date
Life insurance and pension policies pay out to named beneficiaries — not according to your Will. Check these are correct. An outdated beneficiary (an ex-partner, for example) can receive funds instead of your current family.
Important
I have adequate life insurance for my dependants
If anyone depends on your income — children, a partner, an elderly parent — life insurance ensures they are financially protected when you are gone. Even a small policy makes a significant difference.
Important
I have considered funeral costs and preferences
Average funeral costs vary from €3,000–€15,000. Pre-paying or setting aside funds removes this financial burden from your family during an already difficult time. Also consider stating your preferences — burial, cremation, etc.
Important
I have a digital assets plan
Email, social media, cloud storage, cryptocurrency, online banking. Leave instructions for how you want these handled. Some platforms (Facebook, Google) have legacy contact settings where you can appoint someone to manage your account.
Important
A trusted person knows where my important documents are
Will, insurance policies, bank details, property deeds, pension documents — at least one trusted person must know where these are stored. Write a "location document" and give it to your executor.
💌 Personal Wishes
Personal
I have written down my funeral and burial preferences
Burial or cremation. Religious or non-religious. Specific readings, music, or people you want involved. Flowers or donations to charity. This removes an incredibly difficult decision from your family at the worst possible time.
Personal
I have considered organ donation
One donor can save up to eight lives. Register your decision — whatever it is — on the organ donor register in your country, and tell your family your wishes. If your family does not know your wishes, they may override even a registered donation.
Personal
I have written letters to the important people in my life
Not a legal requirement — but one of the most meaningful things you can do. Letters to your children, partner, parents, or friends expressing your love, memories, and wishes. These become treasured keepsakes.
Personal
I have thought about specific personal possessions
Who gets grandmother's ring? The family photographs? Your father's watch? Disputes over sentimental items cause more family conflict than financial assets. Be specific in your Will or in a separate letter of wishes.
Personal
I have appointed a guardian for my children (if applicable)
If you have minor children, your Will must name who would care for them if both parents died. This is one of the most important reasons to have a Will. Talk to the person you are naming first — they must agree.
Personal
I have had the important conversations
Have you told your family what you want? Do they know your funeral wishes, who you want to make medical decisions, and where your important documents are? These conversations are uncomfortable but are one of the most loving things you can do.
🏥 Medical Wishes
Medical
I have documented my resuscitation wishes (CPR preferences)
If you have strong feelings about resuscitation — especially if you are elderly or seriously ill — document these in an Advance Healthcare Directive. This ensures your wishes are followed rather than defaulting to maximum intervention.
Medical
I have a healthcare proxy / medical decision maker named
If you cannot speak for yourself, who should make your medical decisions? This person must know your values and wishes. Name them formally in an Advance Healthcare Directive, not just verbally.
Medical
My doctor has a copy of my Advance Healthcare Directive
An Advance Healthcare Directive only works if the right people have it. Give a copy to your GP, your hospital, and any healthcare provider treating you for a serious condition. Keep one in an accessible location at home.
💌 Use this space to record your wishes in your own words. Everything stays only in your browser — nothing is uploaded or shared. Print this page to keep a record or give to a trusted person.
💌 My Final Wishes
This is not a legal document. It is a personal record of your wishes. For legally binding instructions, you need a Will prepared with a solicitor. But this document helps your family understand what mattered to you.
Funeral & Burial Wishes
Organ Donation
Personal Possessions
Important People
Messages to Loved Ones
Anything Else
⚠️ This document is not a legally valid Will. For a legally binding Will, please consult a qualified solicitor. This is a personal record of wishes to guide and inform your family.
📜 Everything You Need to Know About Wills
What is a Will?
A Will (also called a Last Will and Testament) is a legal document that states how you want your possessions distributed after you die, who should care for your children, and who should carry out your wishes (the Executor). Without a valid Will, your estate is distributed according to the law — which may not match your wishes at all.
Who needs a Will?
Everyone over 18 who owns anything or has people who depend on them. Even a young person with few assets should have a Will if they have children. The biggest myth is "I do not have enough to need a Will" — but even modest estates cause enormous problems without one.
What happens without a Will?
If you die "intestate" (without a Will), your estate passes according to the rules of intestacy in your country. In Ireland, a spouse receives two-thirds and children share one-third. Unmarried partners typically receive nothing. Children from previous relationships may be excluded. The court appoints an administrator — which is slow and expensive.
How to make a valid Will
1. You must be over 18 and "of sound mind"
2. It must be in writing (typed or handwritten)
3. You must sign it in the presence of two witnesses
4. Both witnesses must sign in your presence — and in each other's presence
5. Witnesses CANNOT be beneficiaries (people who receive anything in the Will)
6. Store it safely and tell your executor where it is
2. It must be in writing (typed or handwritten)
3. You must sign it in the presence of two witnesses
4. Both witnesses must sign in your presence — and in each other's presence
5. Witnesses CANNOT be beneficiaries (people who receive anything in the Will)
6. Store it safely and tell your executor where it is
Cost of making a Will
Ireland: Solicitor €200–€500 for a straightforward Will. Some solicitors offer free Will-writing services for elderly people. Citizens Information (citizensinformation.ie) lists free services.
UK: Solicitor £150–£300. Many charities run free Will-writing weeks. The Law Society has a list of solicitors who offer this service.
USA: Attorney $300–$1,000. Online services (LegalZoom, Trust & Will) from $69. Some states allow self-made Wills (holographic Wills).
UK: Solicitor £150–£300. Many charities run free Will-writing weeks. The Law Society has a list of solicitors who offer this service.
USA: Attorney $300–$1,000. Online services (LegalZoom, Trust & Will) from $69. Some states allow self-made Wills (holographic Wills).
📖 Key Legal Terms Explained
Will (Testament)
A legal document stating your wishes for your estate after death. Must be signed by two witnesses.
Executor
The person you name to carry out the instructions in your Will. They manage your estate and distribute assets.
Beneficiary
A person or organisation that receives something from your estate. Cannot witness your Will.
Intestate
Dying without a valid Will. Your estate is then distributed according to the law of your country — not your wishes.
Probate
The legal process of proving a Will is valid and administering the estate. Can take months or years without proper planning.
Estate
Everything you own — property, money, possessions, investments — at the time of your death.
Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA)
Authorises someone to manage your affairs if you become mentally incapacitated. Different from a Will — it applies during your lifetime.
Advance Healthcare Directive
A document stating your medical treatment wishes if you cannot communicate them yourself. Also called a Living Will.
Guardian
A person named in your Will to care for your minor children if both parents die. Must agree to the role in advance.
Codicil
An amendment to an existing Will. Must be signed and witnessed the same way as the original Will.
Trust
A legal arrangement where assets are held and managed by one person (trustee) for the benefit of another (beneficiary). Useful for children or complex estates.
Letter of Wishes
A non-legal document accompanying your Will that gives more personal guidance to your executor. Not binding but important context.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
🤝 Support & Resources
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