Topic
End-of-life planning — what your loved ones will need.
Healthcare directives, hospice and palliative-care preferences, funeral wishes, organ donation, and the practical instructions that make a hard time easier on the people you leave behind.
The four things to know
Quick takeaways.
Healthcare directive comes before the will
Your living will + healthcare power of attorney are what matter when you're alive but can't speak for yourself. Hospitals look there first, not at your last will and testament.
Document your funeral wishes
Cremation vs burial, religious or secular service, music, who gives the eulogy. None of this belongs in the will (which often isn't read until after the funeral). Put it in a separate letter of instruction.
Organ donation is a registry decision
The state DMV donor registry is the cleanest way. The healthcare directive can also reflect anatomical-gift preferences, but the DMV registry is what hospitals check first.
A 'when I die' folder
Account logins, password manager emergency access, location of key documents, names and numbers of your accountant and lawyer, the list of accounts to close. The single most useful artifact you can leave behind.
If this is you
Pick the path that matches your situation.
Ready to put this in writing?
A signed will is the foundation. Trusts and other structures build on top.