Survivorship Planning & Assistance
Life's most challenging transitions—death, disability, and divorce—require careful planning and thoughtful action. This comprehensive guide helps you prepare in advance and navigate these difficult times with clarity and confidence.
Pre-Planning
Essential documents, designations, and preparations to complete before a life event occurs.
Upon Death
Step-by-step guidance for immediate actions, estate administration, and long-term planning.
Disability
Managing incapacity, caregiver planning, and financial considerations when illness strikes.
Divorce
Financial separation, asset division, and rebuilding your financial life.
How to Use This Tool
Work through each section at your own pace. Check off items as you complete them, and use the workbook sections to record important information. Create multiple profiles to manage different situations (your own planning, a parent's estate, etc.). Your progress is automatically saved to your browser.
Save Multiple Profiles
Use the Profile selector in the header to create and switch between different profiles. This allows you to track separate planning scenarios—for example, your own pre-planning, helping with a parent's estate, or managing a client situation.
Pre-Planning Essentials
Taking time now to organize your affairs ensures your wishes are honored and reduces stress for loved ones during difficult times.
Important
Without proper legal documents, state laws will determine how your assets are distributed and who makes decisions on your behalf.
Core Documents
Last Will and Testament Critical
Names executor, guardians for minor children, and specifies asset distribution
Learn about wills →Durable Power of Attorney (Financial) Critical
Authorizes someone to manage finances if you become incapacitated
Healthcare Power of Attorney / Healthcare Proxy Critical
Authorizes someone to make medical decisions if you cannot
Living Will / Advance Directive Critical
Documents your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment
State-specific forms →HIPAA Authorization
Allows designated individuals to access your medical information
Revocable Living Trust (if applicable)
Avoids probate and provides privacy; especially valuable for larger estates
Beneficiary Designations Override Your Will
Assets with named beneficiaries pass directly to those individuals, regardless of what your will says. Review these annually.
Accounts to Review
Life Insurance Policies
Individual policies, employer group life, and supplemental coverage
Retirement Accounts (401k, 403b, IRA, Roth IRA)
Check both primary and contingent beneficiaries
Pension Plans
Understand survivor benefit options and designations
Bank Accounts (POD - Payable on Death)
Consider adding POD designations to checking and savings
Investment Accounts (TOD - Transfer on Death)
Non-retirement investment accounts can have TOD designations
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Name spouse as beneficiary for tax-free transfer
Coverage Assessment
Review life insurance coverage adequacy
Rule of thumb: 10-12x income, plus debts and future needs
Evaluate disability insurance coverage
Long-term disability should cover 60-70% of income
Consider long-term care insurance
Especially important after age 50; hybrid policies combine life + LTC
Review umbrella liability coverage
Typically $1M-$5M; provides extra protection above auto/home limits
Document all policy numbers and agent contacts
Keep in secure location accessible to trusted family member
The Challenge of Digital Access
Many accounts use two-factor authentication (2FA) with face or fingerprint recognition. Even with correct credentials, secondary codes sent to phones create barriers. Consider adding a trusted person's fingerprint to your phone or creating backup codes for 2FA accounts.
Password & Account Management
Set up password manager with emergency access
1Password, LastPass, Dashlane, Bitwarden offer emergency recipient features
Create list of all digital accounts with access info
Email, financial, social media, subscriptions, cloud storage
Store 2FA backup codes securely
In password manager AND physical location (safe, attorney)
Add trusted person's fingerprint/face to phone
Share phone passcode for device restart situations
Social Media & Digital Legacy Contacts
Set up Google Inactive Account Manager
Designate who gets access after 3-18 months of inactivity
Configure Facebook Legacy Contact or deletion preference
Choose memorialization with legacy contact or permanent deletion
Document instructions for other social accounts
TikTok, Snapchat, Twitter require death certificate for deletion
Include device PINs and computer passwords
Store with estate documents or in secure password manager
Digital Access Information
Upon Death of a Loved One
Losing someone close is overwhelming. This guide provides a structured approach organized by timeline to help you focus on what's most important.
Official Registration
Contact doctor (GP) or hospital for Medical Certificate of Cause of Death Urgent
OR contact coroner's office if applicable
Make appointment with Registrar of Births and Deaths
Usually required within a few days of death
Request 10-15 certified death certificates Important
You'll need many for accounts, insurance, and legal matters
Complete Notification of Death form
Informs government departments using National Insurance/Social Security number
Take Care of Yourself First
Grief is exhausting. Accept help from others, delegate tasks when possible, and don't try to do everything at once.
First Steps
Notify close family members and friends
Consider designating one person to spread the word
Contact funeral director to discuss arrangements
Check Will for specific funeral requests first
Contact religious or spiritual adviser if appropriate
For funeral planning and spiritual support
Secure the deceased's home if vacant
Check for pets, adjust thermostat, secure valuables
Locate will and important documents
Check home safe, safe deposit box, solicitor/attorney's office
Notify employer or educational establishments
Ask about final pay, benefits, life insurance
Cancel health-related appointments
Hospital, dental, podiatry, other medical appointments
Notify care agencies
Social services, home carers, meals on wheels, day centres
Financial Notifications
Banks / National Savings / Building Societies
Freeze sole accounts to prevent fraud; joint accounts remain accessible
Insurance companies (life, buildings/contents, medical, car, travel)
File life insurance claims; ensure continued coverage on property
Pension providers
Understand survivor benefit options and required elections
Credit card / store card providers
Cancel cards; determine responsibility for balances
Investment and brokerage firms
Request transfer of assets and date-of-death values
Retirement plan administrators (401k, IRA)
Understand distribution options and deadlines
Property Notifications
Mortgage provider
Discuss assumability, refinancing options, or payoff
Landlord (if rented accommodation)
Local authority, housing association, or private landlord
Buildings and property insurance
Ensure continued cover especially if property is unoccupied
Utility companies (electricity, gas, water, telephone)
Arrange transfer of account details if necessary
TV / internet / streaming service companies
Cancel or transfer subscriptions
Government Notifications
Social Security Administration / Pensions Service Urgent
Cancel benefits; apply for survivor benefits
SSA Survivor Benefits →Tax Authority (IRS / Inland Revenue)
Deal with tax and any applicable benefits
Local government offices
Electoral register, housing benefit, council tax, bus pass, disabled permits
DMV / DVLA (if owned vehicle or held license)
Transfer or cancel vehicle registration and license
Passport Agency
Return or cancel passport
Estate Administration
Find the Will and determine its location
Check deceased's property, solicitor/attorney's office
Identify executors and inform them
If no Will, determine who will apply for Letters of Administration
Determine if probate is needed
Depends on estate size and how assets are titled
Gather documents for financial affairs and property
Bank statements, deeds, investment records
Obtain EIN for estate (if required)
Required for estate tax returns and accounts
Apply for EIN →Decide whether to use professional or self-administer
Consider complexity of estate and your comfort level
Additional Notifications
Arrange redirection of post/mail
Reduces unwanted mail burden; register with bereavement services
Clubs, membership organizations, social groups
Cancel memberships and subscriptions
Library membership
Return any borrowed items and cancel card
Firearms license (if applicable)
Contact local police station to surrender license and secure firearms
Planning for Disability & Incapacity
Illness or disability can strike unexpectedly. Understanding the legal, financial, and practical considerations helps ensure proper care and protection.
Act Before It's Too Late
These documents must be signed while you have mental capacity. Once incapacitated, family would need costly court guardianship.
Legal Documents for Incapacity
Durable Power of Attorney (Financial) Critical
Must be "durable" to remain effective during incapacity
Healthcare Power of Attorney Critical
Designates someone to make medical decisions
Living Will / Advance Directive Critical
Documents wishes about life-sustaining treatment
State-specific forms →HIPAA Authorization
Allows access to your medical information
Copies of any medical orders (DNR, POLST, etc.)
Keep copies accessible to healthcare providers and family
Immediate Steps
Locate POA and healthcare proxy documents
May need certified copies for institutions
Notify employer about disability benefits
Short-term, long-term disability, FMLA
File for Social Security Disability (SSDI)
5-month waiting period; apply early
SSDI Information →File private disability insurance claim
Review definition of disability, elimination period
Review health insurance options
COBRA, Medicare (after 24 months SSDI), Medicaid
Research long-term care options
Home care, assisted living, skilled nursing
Divorce & Separation Planning
Divorce fundamentally changes your financial life. Two households must survive on what formerly supported one. Proper planning can help protect your interests.
Knowledge is Power
Before announcing intentions, gather financial information. Once divorce is on the table, access may become limited.
Financial Inventory
Copy all financial statements
Banks, investments, retirement - at least 3 years
Copy tax returns (last 5 years)
Provides comprehensive financial picture
Document all assets and values
Real estate, vehicles, investments, valuables
List all debts and liabilities
Note whose name they're in
Protect Yourself
Establish credit in your own name
Open individual credit card if needed
Open individual bank account
For emergency fund and separate finances
Consult with divorce attorney
Understand rights, state laws, process
Consider Certified Divorce Financial Analyst
Can analyze settlement proposals
Post-Divorce Tasks
Update beneficiary designations Urgent
Life insurance, retirement accounts, POD/TOD
Update will and estate plan
Remove ex-spouse; update executors, guardians
Revise POA and healthcare proxy
Designate new trusted individuals
Close joint accounts
Bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts
Update insurance policies
Remove ex-spouse; review coverage needs
Create new single-income budget
Adjust spending to match new reality
Personal Information Workbook
Use this section to record important information in one central location. Create different profiles to manage multiple situations. All data is saved locally in your browser.
Employment, Education & Military
Sources of Income & Assets
Safe Deposit Box & Important Documents
Keep This Updated
Update prescription information regularly. Keep copies of advance directives accessible to healthcare providers and family.
Two-Factor Authentication Challenge
Even with correct passwords, 2FA codes sent to phones create barriers. Consider adding a trusted person's fingerprint/face to your phone, and store backup codes physically (safe, attorney) in addition to your password manager.
Password Manager & Emergency Access
Family & Personal Contacts