Which Documents Are Essential for Your Estate Plan?
A well-organised estate plan brings real peace of mind. It reassures you that everything is in order, and it spares your loved ones from searching or guessing when the time comes. Yet many people overlook essential documents or do not keep them together. Here are the key items to include:
Your Will
Your will sets out what happens to your assets after you pass. Without one, the law decides how your estate is distributed, which may not match your wishes and has the potential to create conflict for those you leave behind.
Ask a solicitor to draft or review your will and update it when you have significant changes in your life such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
👉 Related: Getting Started with Estate Planning
Insurance Overview
Life cover, term insurance, and funeral policies and plans are often forgotten, which can have real financial consequences for your family. Keep an up-to-date list of every policy, with policy numbers, providers, and contact details.
Make sure your loved ones know these policies are in place and where they can access them.
👉 Learn more: How Life After Me helps with insurance and funeral wishes
Up-to-Date Records
List all bank accounts, savings, investments, pensions, mortgages, and loans. When this information is scattered, your family can often spend weeks or even months on an endless search.
Also, consider your digital assets. Include the following:
Cryptocurrencies and online wallets
Accounts held on trading platforms
Any relevant login details and security credentials
Don’t forget to record debts and other obligations too. A clear, central record makes settling an estate faster and makes the process much easier for your executors.
Title Deeds and Contracts
Keep property title deeds, vehicle registration documents, leases, share certificates, and key business agreements with your estate papers. Missing documents can delay transfers and add costs.
Store copies in one secure, accessible place, ideally with a clear index.
👉 See also: Storing Your Most Important Information
Passwords and Digital Access
So much of our life is online. Email, social media, photos, and cloud storage all hold important information and memories. Set up a secure way for a trusted person to access what is needed, such as:
A password manager with an emergency access feature
Recovery codes for key accounts and devices
Clear instructions on what to close, memorialise, or keep
👉 Related: Your Digital Life: Chaotic or Organised?
Medical and Funeral Wishes
Do not leave these difficult decisions to others. Record any advance instructions about treatment, your preferences for care, and your funeral wishes. Sharing these details beforehand reduces uncertainty for your family at a very difficult time.
👉 Explore: Funeral wishes in Life After Me
What Happens If You Do Not Plan in Time
If documents are missing, families must piece things together through solicitors, banks, insurers, and other organisations. This takes time, energy, and in some cases money. Good preparation saves your family confusion, doubts, and disagreements.
Store Everything Centrally and Securely
With a digital solution like Life After Me, you can keep wills, policies, account details, passwords, and personal wishes in one secure place. You decide who can see what, and your loved ones will have the gift of clarity when it’s needed most.
Do not put it off. Make a start today.