Letter of last instruction: a personal template for your family

Start with the purpose and date #

Say who the letter is for and how it should be used. Keep the first paragraph short enough for a reader under stress to understand immediately.

For [chosen person / people] Written: [date] This note is a guide to our household information if I am unavailable. Start with [document index location]. For questions about legal documents, contact [professional]. This note does not change those documents.

Add contacts, locations and practical responsibilities #

Use headings a reader can scan. Refer to your protected index instead of copying secrets into the letter. This makes updates easier and limits how many sensitive copies circulate.

• Who can help: primary contact, backup and relevant professionals.
• Where records live: document index and original-record custodians.
• What needs attention: care routines, bills and time-sensitive responsibilities.
• Digital information: where approved access instructions are protected.
• Personal context: wishes you want discussed and stories or messages you want preserved.

Source: National Institute on Aging: Getting your affairs in order

Explain one unusual thing clearly #

The most valuable part may be the detail no standard checklist knows: an annual renewal, a dependent’s routine or a provider who uses paper mail. Write one short explanation without turning the letter into a full archive.

The annual [service] renewal usually arrives in [month]. The current record is in [location]. Contact [provider] if the reminder arrives while I am unavailable; check their requirements before making changes.

Read it with the intended person #

Ask them to identify the first action and locate one referenced record. Remove ambiguous instructions and address conflicts with formal documents through the appropriate professional. Date meaningful revisions, identify the current version and tell the reader where to find it. A clear letter is helpful only if someone knows it exists.

Is a letter of last instruction the same as this family note? #

“Letter of last instruction” and “letter of final instruction” are often used for an informal note that helps family locate records, contacts and personal wishes. This guide and its printable prompts address that organizing task. They are not institutional transaction instructions or a replacement for legally effective estate documents.

What should I leave out of the shared letter? #

Keep passwords, recovery codes, access keys and full account identifiers in appropriately protected storage. The letter can point to that location. Avoid instructions that purport to change beneficiaries, distribute property or authorize transactions: take those intentions to the relevant professional or institution and keep the resulting formal records findable.

Worked example: a letter your family can follow #

This fictional example shows how to turn the prompts into a usable note. Replace the names and locations with your own details, then check the directions with your chosen person. Keep the note with your information index and share only appropriate details.

• Replace vague phrases such as “my files” with a location your helper can recognize.
• Use a contact who has agreed to help and confirm the backup route.
• Check that the referenced tabs and records actually exist before sharing the note.

For Casey, from Jordan Last checked: September 9, 2026 If I am unavailable, please start with the green Household folder in the study cabinet. The first sheet is the document index. It distinguishes original records from copies and lists the people who can explain them. Please contact Morgan if you need help coordinating the household. Morgan has agreed to be the backup contact; their current number is on the contact sheet. The Bills tab lists providers and statement locations. Please use each provider’s official process if you need assistance. This note does not authorize anyone to use an account. The Home tab explains pet care and scheduled services. Current care-team instructions, if needed, are in the location shown on the contact sheet. My personal wishes are in the Wishes tab. Please discuss questions with the relevant professional and refer to the existing formal documents rather than treating this note as a replacement. We should check these directions after a move or a change of contact, account or care arrangement.