Key Takeaways
- A letter of instruction is an informal document that tells your executor and family the practical details your will doesn’t: accounts, contacts, passwords’ locations and personal wishes.
- It generally isn’t legally binding, so never use it to leave property; that belongs in your will or beneficiary forms.
- It can save your family weeks of searching and guessing during a hard time.
- Include financial accounts, insurance, advisors, digital accounts, funeral wishes, pet care and personal messages.
- Keep it with your estate documents, tell your executor where it is, and update it regularly.
What is a letter of instruction?
A letter of instruction (sometimes called a letter of intent or a “when I’m gone” letter) is a plain-language guide for the people who’ll handle your affairs. Your will says who gets what. Your letter of instruction says where things are and how you’d like things handled.
Because it’s informal, you can update it whenever you like without witnesses or a notary.
What to include
People to contact
- Your executor, attorney, accountant and financial advisor
- Insurance agents and employer HR or benefits office
- Close friends and relatives who should be told
Where to find important documents
- Your will, any trust documents and powers of attorney
- Deeds, vehicle titles and loan documents
- Birth and marriage certificates, military discharge papers
- Recent tax returns
Financial accounts and insurance
- Bank, brokerage and retirement accounts (institution and type, not full passwords)
- Life insurance policies and beneficiaries
- Debts, recurring bills and automatic payments to cancel
Digital life
- Email, social media and online accounts, and how you’d like each handled
- Where your password manager or password list is kept
- See digital estate planning
Personal wishes
- Funeral and burial wishes
- Care instructions for pets; see pet trusts
- Who should receive sentimental items (as a wish, unless your state recognizes a separate written list referenced in your will)
- Personal messages to loved ones
Letter of instruction vs. other documents
| Document | Legally binding? | Main purpose | Formalities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Letter of instruction | No | Practical guidance and personal wishes | None; update anytime |
| Will | Yes | Who inherits and who’s in charge | Signing and witness rules |
| Living trust | Yes | Manage and transfer trust assets | Signed; assets must be retitled |
| Beneficiary designations | Yes | Who receives specific accounts | Account forms |
| Tangible personal property memorandum | Yes, in states that allow it | Who receives specific belongings | Must be referenced in your will |
Keeping it safe and current
- Store it with your will and other estate documents, and give your executor a copy or tell them where it is.
- Don’t write full passwords or account numbers in a copy many people can see; point to a secure password manager instead.
- Review it once a year, and whenever you open or close accounts or change advisors.
Frequently asked questions
Is a letter of instruction legally binding?
Generally no. It’s guidance for your family and executor. Anything you want to be legally enforceable, such as who inherits property, belongs in your will, a trust or beneficiary designations.
Who should get a copy of my letter of instruction?
Your executor, and possibly your spouse or partner and the person named in your powers of attorney. Tell them where the original is kept.
Should I include passwords in my letter of instruction?
It’s safer to note where your passwords are stored, such as a password manager with emergency access, rather than writing them in the letter itself.
Can I use a letter of instruction instead of a will?
No. A letter of instruction can’t transfer property or appoint an executor or guardian. Use it alongside a will.
How often should I update my letter of instruction?
At least once a year and after any major change in your accounts, advisors, health or family.
Keep reading
- Estate Planning Checklist: The Documents Everyone NeedsA plain-English estate planning checklist: the will, living will, powers of attorney and other documents everyone needs, plus what to organize and when to update.
- What Is a Living Will? How It Works and What to IncludeA living will records your wishes about life-sustaining treatment if you can't speak for yourself. Learn what it covers, when it applies and how it differs from a will.
- Living Will vs. Advance Directive: What’s the Difference?What is an advance directive? It's the umbrella term for your written health care instructions. Learn how living wills, health care proxies and advance directive forms fit together.
- Will vs. Trust: Which Do You Need?Compare a will and a revocable living trust on probate, privacy, cost and control. Learn when a will is enough and when a trust makes sense.
- What Happens If You Die Without a Will?If you die without a will, state intestacy law decides who inherits, who manages your estate and who raises your kids. Here's what typically happens.
- Funeral Planning Checklist: How to Plan AheadA step-by-step funeral planning checklist: burial or cremation, the service, costs, paperwork and how to make sure your family can find your wishes in time.
- How to Avoid Probate: 6 Common StrategiesProbate can be slow, public and costly. Learn six common ways to pass assets directly to your heirs, from beneficiary designations to a living trust.
- How to Choose an Executor for Your Will (and What They Do)Your executor carries out your will. Learn what an executor does, who makes a good choice, and the mistakes to avoid when naming one.
- Pet Trust: How to Provide for Your Pets After You’re GonePets can't inherit money, but a pet trust can fund their care. Learn how pet trusts work, how they compare with a will, and how to choose a caregiver.
- What Is a Living Trust? How It Works, Pros and ConsA living trust holds your assets during life and passes them to your heirs without probate. Learn how revocable living trusts work, what they cost, and who needs one.
- What Is Probate? How the Process Works, Step by StepProbate is the court process for settling an estate. Learn what happens in probate, how long it takes, what it costs, and which assets skip it entirely.
- How to Make a Will: Step-by-Step Guide and Legal RequirementsLearn how to make a valid will: what to include, who can witness it, whether it needs a notary, and the common mistakes that can make a will fail.
- Digital Estate Planning: What Happens to Your Online AccountsWhat happens to your email, photos, social media and online accounts when you die or become incapacitated? A practical guide to digital estate planning.
- DNR vs. Living Will vs. POLST: What’s the Difference?A living will is your own instructions; a DNR and a POLST are doctor's orders. Learn how each works, who signs it, and which ones emergency responders follow.
- How Much Does a Will Cost? Lawyer vs. Online vs. DIYA simple will can cost nothing or several thousand dollars depending on how you make it. Compare attorney, online and DIY costs, and what's included at each price.
- Do You Need a Lawyer to Make a Will?No state requires a lawyer to make a valid will, and many people can do it themselves. Here's when a DIY or online will works and when an attorney is worth it.
- Last Will vs. Living Will: What’s the Difference?A last will controls your property after death; a living will states your medical wishes while you're alive. Learn how they differ and why most adults need both.
- Executor vs. Trustee: What’s the Difference?An executor settles your estate through probate under your will; a trustee manages assets held in a trust, sometimes for years. Compare their roles, powers and how to choose.
Don’t leave your family guessing
Put your health care wishes in writing with a living will, HIPAA release and medical authorization. The No Brainer Box adds a last will, a revocable trust and health care and financial powers of attorney.
- Answer a few simple questions online
- Download your completed, ready-to-sign forms
- Sign them and keep copies in your account
This guide is general educational information written by the No Brainer Forms Team. It is not legal advice, and No Brainer Forms is not a law firm. Laws and signing requirements vary by state; for advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.