Why this matters
When someone dies or ends up in the hospital, their family often spends weeks hunting for basic information while they're grieving: which ba
When someone dies or ends up in the hospital, their family often spends weeks hunting for basic information while they're grieving: which bank, which insurance company, who the landlord is, what the phone passcode is kept with. A one-page letter can save them that.
A letter isn't a will
This binder helps your family find things. It is not a legal document. A will is what legally names who inherits your property and, for parents, who you'd want to raise your children. Without one, state law decides. Each state has its own rules for a valid will, usually including signing in front of witnesses. If you have kids, a home, or more than a little savings, a will is worth making.
Beneficiaries come first
Life insurance, retirement accounts and many bank accounts go to the beneficiaries named on the account, no matter what a will says. Log in and check those names, especially after a marriage, divorce or new baby.
Free and low-cost help
Some employers include free will preparation in their benefits. Local legal aid offices help people with low incomes. Online will services can cost much less than a lawyer for simple situations.
Sources
3 sources
Last checked October 2026. Amounts change every year.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau · Managing someone else's money
- USA.gov · Wills and estate planning
- Legal Services Corporation · Find free legal aid near you