Guides / Life Events
Post-Mortem Letter: How To Prepare It and What To Include
A post-mortem letter gives your executor and loved ones the practical information they need after your death. It does not replace a will, but it can prevent confusion, missed assets, unnecessary expenses, and avoidable delays.
In this guide
What a post-mortem letter does
A post-mortem letter is a practical instruction letter for the people who will handle your affairs after you die. It tells your executor, spouse, family members, or trusted advisors where to find the documents, assets, contacts, and instructions they will need.
The letter can help your survivors locate tax records, deeds, titles, insurance policies, bank accounts, investment accounts, safe deposit boxes, professional contacts, and personal instructions. Without this information, your estate may spend unnecessary time and money trying to find documents or verify assets.
It is also a way to communicate details that may not belong in a will, such as who to notify, where passwords or keys are stored, how pets should be cared for, or what funeral arrangements have already been made.
Important distinction
A post-mortem letter is not a legal substitute for a properly executed will, trust, power of attorney, or living will. It is a companion document that makes those plans easier to carry out.
What it does not replace
A post-mortem letter does not have the legal authority of a will. It should not be used to distribute property, name guardians, change beneficiaries, or make legally binding estate decisions that should be handled through formal estate planning documents.
It also does not replace a living will or health care directive. A post-mortem letter is designed for instructions after death, not for medical decisions during life.
The best approach is to use formal estate documents for legally binding decisions and use the post-mortem letter for practical information that helps your executor and family find what they need.
Where to keep the letter
Write the letter now, keep it current, and store copies where they will be found. You might keep one copy with your will, one with your attorney, one with your executor, and one in a secure file at home.
Do not keep the only copy in a safe deposit box. In many cases, access to a safe deposit box may be delayed after death, especially if it is rented only in your name.
If you do not want the information seen during your life, place the letter in a sealed envelope and tell your executor where it is located. Also make sure your family knows not to throw away financial papers until your attorney, accountant, or executor has reviewed them.
Review the letter regularly. Update it after major life events, changes in accounts, new property purchases, beneficiary changes, professional changes, or changes in family circumstances.
What to include in the letter
The post-mortem letter should be clear, organized, and practical. It should help your executor move through the first steps without guessing.
Immediate to-do items
- People, relatives, friends, employers, or organizations to notify
- Organ donor information, if applicable
- Social Security information and where to find needed documents
- Names and contact details for your accountant, attorney, financial advisor, insurance agent, and other key professionals
- Club memberships, subscriptions, digital accounts, and recurring obligations
- Instructions for pets or other personal responsibilities
Estate and family information
- Location of the signed will and any copies
- Trust documents and where they are stored
- Guardianship instructions for minor children, if applicable
- Funeral or burial preferences
- Cemetery plot information, burial plot deed, or prepaid funeral arrangements
- Safe deposit box location, key location, and who has access
Formal guardianship and property transfer decisions should still be handled through estate planning documents. The letter should point people to those documents and provide helpful context.
Financial, tax, and professional records
Your executor will need to understand what you owned, what you owed, and where records are located. The letter should be detailed enough that a responsible person can identify accounts and contact the right institutions.
Banking and credit accounts
List checking, savings, money market, and credit card accounts, along with the institution name and where statements are kept. Note any joint owners, authorized users, payable-on-death designations, or accounts that are not in your name but may be relevant.
Loans and debts
Provide information on mortgages, student loans, personal loans, business debts, vehicle loans, and other obligations. Some debts may have insurance features that cancel or reduce the balance after death, so identify where loan documents are stored.
Tax records
Identify the location of income tax returns, gift tax returns, payroll records, business records, and supporting documents. If returns or notices are pending, note the status and the professional helping with them.
Insurance and property
List life, health, property, liability, business, and employer-provided insurance policies. Include policy numbers, insurer names, and where the policies are stored. Also list real estate, vehicles, titled assets, collections, personal property, and anything that may be difficult to locate.
Investments and retirement accounts
List brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, IRAs, pensions, annuities, partnerships, stock certificates, and other investment holdings. Note the location of statements and beneficiary information where appropriate.
Employment and benefit history
Include prior employers, government service, military service, pension benefits, union benefits, and any other source of possible survivor or death benefits. These details can help your executor or family identify benefits that might otherwise be missed.
Frequently asked questions
Is a post-mortem letter legally binding?
No. It is a practical instruction document, not a replacement for a will, trust, beneficiary designation, or legal estate plan. Use it to tell your executor where things are and who to contact.
Who should receive a copy?
Consider giving a copy to your executor, attorney, spouse or trusted family member, and possibly your CPA or financial advisor. If the letter contains sensitive information, you can keep it sealed and tell the right people where to find it.
How often should I update it?
Review it at least once a year and after major changes such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, a move, the purchase or sale of property, a new business, a new professional advisor, or changes to accounts and beneficiaries.
Should passwords be included?
Be careful with passwords. Instead of listing sensitive passwords directly in the letter, consider using a secure password manager and explaining how your executor or trusted person can access it according to your estate plan and applicable law.
Can this letter help reduce estate confusion?
Yes. A well-prepared letter can help your executor find documents, contact advisors, identify assets, and avoid missed accounts or unnecessary expenses. It is one of the simplest ways to make the estate administration process easier for your family.
Make your plan easier to carry out.
Legacy CPAs can help you organize the financial and tax information your family may need during a major life transition.
Contact UsThis guide is for general informational purposes only and is not tax, legal, financial, or investment advice. It does not cover every situation or exception that may apply to you. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on this information.