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A free printable in case of death checklist is a simple planning tool for recording important contacts, documents, personal wishes, and practical instructions. It can help your family or trusted representative find essential information quickly during a difficult time. A checklist does not replace a will, power of attorney, trust, or professional legal advice, but it can make those documents easier to locate and use.
Who can use an in case of death checklist?
This printable is useful for adults of any age, especially people managing a household, supporting children or pets, owning a business, or handling multiple financial accounts. It is also helpful for an executor, personal representative, spouse, adult child, caregiver, or other person who may need to manage affairs after a death.
People preparing for surgery, organizing an estate, moving into assisted living, or creating a household emergency binder may also find the checklist useful. You can complete it for yourself, review it with a partner, or use it to help an aging parent organize information.
What to include
Use the checklist to note where important information is stored rather than writing sensitive details in an unsecured place. Useful sections may include:
- Full legal name, preferred contacts, and emergency instructions
- Location of the original will, trust, advance directive, and financial power of attorney
- Funeral, burial, cremation, organ donation, or memorial preferences
- Names and contact information for attorneys, financial professionals, insurance agents, employers, and clergy
- Bank, investment, mortgage, insurance, retirement, and business records
- Care instructions for children, pets, plants, property, and vehicles
- Digital account guidance, including where account information is stored
- Locations of identification, military records, deeds, tax returns, and medical documents
How to use the printable
- Download or print a checklist from a reputable source.
- Complete one section at a time, beginning with contacts and document locations.
- Write “not applicable” where a section does not apply, so others know it was considered.
- Store the completed checklist in a labeled binder, locked file, or secure digital location.
- Tell one or two trusted people where it is kept and update it after major changes.
Do not place passwords, Social Security numbers, account numbers, or other highly sensitive information on a sheet that may be left in an open area. Instead, record the secure location or instructions for accessing that information.
Practical printing tips
Print on standard US Letter paper using the “actual size” or “fit to printable area” setting, depending on the layout. Print a spare copy for a household binder, and use heavier paper if the checklist will be handled often. Leave extra space for handwritten notes, dates, reference numbers, and the initials of the person completing each task. A pencil or erasable pen makes future updates easier.
Review the completed checklist at least once a year and after a move, marriage, divorce, birth, major purchase, account change, or update to your estate documents. Keep copies of legal documents where they can be found, but consult qualified professionals when state-specific legal, tax, or probate questions arise.
Where to Find and Print Free Printable In Case Of Death Checklist
What to Do When Someone Dies: Free Printable Checklist
A downloadable checklist organized by the first 24–48 hours, first week, and later estate-related tasks.
Documentation/Activity Checklist in the Event of a Death
A university-provided PDF covering immediate actions, documents, notifications, and administrative considerations after a death.