How to Get Your Affairs in Order Before You Die

What getting your affairs in order means

Getting your affairs in order means making sure the people you leave behind can find what they need and know what to do. It includes legal documents like a will, but also the everyday details: where your accounts are, what you owe, who to call, and what your digital life contains.

Preparing for death is uncomfortable, so most people put it off. You do not have to do it all at once. Even a partial list helps your family enormously.

List your financial accounts

Organizing your financial information before death is often the most useful thing you can do. Families cannot close, claim, or transfer an account they do not know exists. Start with the institutions your family would need to contact.

Bank and credit union accounts, including checking, savings, and CDs
Brokerage and investment accounts
Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s and IRAs, including old employer plans
Life insurance policies and annuities
Pension plans
Safe deposit boxes, and where the key is kept

Retirement accounts and life insurance generally pass to the person named as beneficiary rather than through your will, so check that those designations are current.

Know what you owe

Your family may also need to deal with debts. Knowing what exists, and who holds it, prevents surprises and missed payments.

Mortgage and home equity loans
Auto and personal loans
Credit cards and store cards
Student loans
Recurring bills and automatic payments

Gather your important documents

Some documents are needed almost immediately. Make sure they exist, are current, and that your family knows where they are.

Will and any trust documents
Powers of attorney and healthcare directives
Beneficiary designation forms
Birth, marriage, and military records
Property deeds and vehicle titles
Recent tax returns and insurance policy documents

Plan for your digital life

Email, cloud photos, social media, subscriptions, and online financial accounts all continue after you are gone. Each platform has its own rules for access, so decide in advance what should happen and who should handle it.

Email and cloud storage
Social media accounts
Subscriptions and recurring payments
Phone and device access
Online-only financial accounts and cryptocurrency

Write down who to call

Your family will be better off with people who already know your situation.

Your estate planning attorney
Your accountant or tax preparer
Your financial advisor or insurance agent
Your executor or personal representative, and any trustee
Your employer or HR contact, for benefits and final pay

Decide what your family needs to know

You do not need to share every detail with everyone, but someone should know the essentials: that this information exists, where to find it, and who is allowed to see it. A conversation while you can still have it is worth more than any list.

Who your executor or personal representative is
Where your will and key documents are kept
Where your list of accounts is, and how they can reach it
Your wishes for funeral or memorial arrangements

Choose where to keep it

A list only helps if the right person can find it, can read it, and it is still accurate. A drawer or a safe protects paper from some risks but not others. It can be lost in a move, stay locked away, or go stale as your accounts change.

Whatever you choose, ask three questions. Will the person who needs it be able to get to it? Will they know it exists? Will I keep it up to date?

What happens after someone dies

Understanding the process helps you prepare your family for your death. Typically, death certificates are obtained, institutions are notified, and a personal representative handles the estate. Some assets go through probate, a court-supervised process, while others, such as accounts with a named beneficiary, pass directly. Timelines and rules vary by state.

If an account is never discovered, it can sit untouched until state law requires the institution to turn it over to the state as unclaimed property. Families can sometimes recover it, but only after learning it exists, searching the right states, and proving their claim. This is the main reason a simple list matters.

Where The Only Step fits

The final step is making sure your family knows where to find this information. That is what The Only Step is designed for. You record the financial institutions you use, choose the people you trust, and decide when they get access: right away, or only after a death certificate is submitted.

It points your family in the right direction, not to your logins. The Only Step does not ask for account numbers or passwords, does not move money, and does not replace a will or estate plan. See how we protect your information.

Start your list

Frequently asked questions

What does it mean to get your affairs in order?

It means organizing your finances, documents, and wishes so your family can find what they need and knows what to do after you die. That includes a will, a list of your accounts and debts, important documents, digital accounts, and the contacts who can help.

Where should I start?

Start by listing the financial institutions you use. It takes the least time and prevents the most common problem, which is a family that does not know which institutions to contact.

Do I need a lawyer to get my affairs in order?

Not for every step. Listing accounts, gathering documents, and talking with your family are things you can do yourself. A will, trust, or power of attorney is a legal document, and an estate planning attorney can help, especially if your situation is complicated. Rules vary by state.

How often should I update it?

Review it once a year and whenever something changes, such as a new account, a move, a marriage or divorce, or a new child.

What happens to accounts nobody knows about?

If an account goes untouched long enough, state law can require the institution to turn it over to the state as unclaimed property. Families can sometimes recover it, but only if they find out it exists and prove their claim.

How is The Only Step different from a will?

A will says who receives your assets. The Only Step tells your family where to look. It complements your will and estate plan and does not replace them.

This guide is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws vary by state, and an estate planning attorney can advise on your situation. Last updated October 2026.