Letter of Last Intent or Last Instructions
An important first step in preplanning a funeral is a letter of last intent or last instructions, which includes personal preferences regarding funeral and burial. This is not a will. It is intended to be a guideline for family and friends.
Once completed, it should be marked “TO BE OPENED IMMEDIATELY IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH”, and given to a family member or placed with other important papers. Copies may be made for other family members or friends. The letter of last instructions should NOT be placed in a safe deposit box because boxes often are not opened until after the funeral.
A letter of last instructions should include the following:
1. Anatomical donations for organ donation.
2. Location of the will and name of the executor or executrix.
3. Instructions regarding funeral and burial: place where services should be held, preferred clergy and music, name of the funeral director, casket and outer enclosure chosen, clothing desire, location of the cemetery with the grave number, lot, section, and block indicated, and other special instructions.
4. Location of birth or baptismal certificates, social security card, marriage or divorce certificates, naturalization and citizenship papers, and discharge papers from the Armed Forces.
5. Location of membership certificates in lodges, fraternal organizations, or Native corporations which may provide death or cemetery benefits.
6. Location of safe deposit boxes and keys.
7. List and location of all insurance policies.
8. List of pension systems which may allow death benefits, for example Social Security Administration, Veterans Administration, government or state pension programs, railroad retirement, and other retirements.
9. List and location of all bank, saving, or credit union accounts.
10. List and location of all stocks and bonds.
11. List of all real property – personal, business, or other. Include land, houses, vehicles, recreational equipment, heirlooms, etc.
12. Instructions concerning all businesses, if any.
13. An explanatory statement of action taken in the will, if desired.
14. List of advisors and their addresses: executor of estate, lawyer, life insurance underwriter, accountant, investment counselor, physicians, preferred funeral director, business partners, clergy, etc.
15. Personal information that will help in the preparation of the obituary, in filling out the death certificate, and completing applications for insurance claims, and government benefits.
Personal information: name, address, social security number, telephone number, schools or colleges attended, honors awarded, date of birth, marital status, employers and positions held with length of service, father and mother’s name and place of birth, names and addresses and date and place of birth of immediate family members (spouse and children).
Name, address, relationship, date and place of birth of immediate family members.
There may be included with the Letter of Last Intent an obituary pre-written by the individual.
