LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONS - Jonathan Pond

1 LETTER OF INSTRUCTIONSA LETTER of INSTRUCTIONS is an informal document that benefits both you and your survivors by providing specific, detailed information necessary for making your funeral arrangements andsettling your affairs according to your wishes. It should not, however, be regardedas a substitute for your will, but rather as a supplement to your will. Like all estateplanning documents, it should be reviewed and updated Things To Do1. Make arrangements with the funeral home. (See the Cemetery and Funeral section, page 2.)2. Notify the following relatives and acquaintances:_____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____3.

2 For care of pet(s) call:Name: _____ Telephone: _____Name: _____ Telephone: _____4. Call lawyer: _____ Telephone: _____5. Notify employer (if applicable).Name: _____ Telephone: _____6. Provide the following newspapers with obituary information. (See Obituary Information, page 2.)_____7. Request at least 10 copies of the death certificate. (Usually, the funeral director will obtain them.)8. Process insurance policies. (See Life Insurance section, page 7.)9. Contact the Social Security office. (See Social Security section, page 8.)10. Notify the bank that holds the home mortgage. (See the Home section, page 10.)11. Notify the following organizations:_____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____ Telephone: _____Cemetery and FuneralFuneral Home1. Name of Funeral Home: _____Telephone: _____2. Address: _____3. Prearrangements have been made:qYesqNoIf yes, documentation is located: _____Information for the Funeral DirectorThis list should be brought to the funeral home, along with the cemetery deed, if Full name: _____2.

3 Residence: _____ Since: _____3. Marital status: _____ Spouse s name:_____4. Date of birth: _____ Birthplace: _____5. Father s name: _____ Birthplace: _____6. Mother s maiden name: _____ Birthplace: _____7. Length of residence in state: _____ In United States: _____8. Military record: _____9. Social Security number: _____10. Life insurance:(Bring policy if proceeds will be used for funeral expenses. See Life Insurance section, page 7.)Insurer: _____Policy Number: _____Cemetery Plot1. Location: _____2. Date purchased: _____3. Deed number: _____4. Location of deed: _____5. Other information ( , perpetual care, headstone): _____Obituary Information1. School(s): _____ Dates: _____ Degree(s):_____2. Employment: _____3. Length of time at current residence: _____4. Special honors/awards: _____5. Community activities: _____6. Professional memberships: _____7.

4 Other memberships: _____8. Volunteer activities: _____9. Other information: _____2 Funeral Preferences1. The following service(s):qFuneral (before disposition)Church: _____qMemorial (after disposition)Place: _____qGravesideCemetary: _____qMortuaryName: _____qOther: _____2. Service preferences:Eulogy:q YesqNoOmit flowers:q YesqNoReadings: _____Music: _____Other Preferences: _____3. Simple arrangements:qNo embalmingqNo public viewingqThe least expensive burial or cremation containerqImmediate disposition4. Remains should be:qInterredCemetary: _____qCremated and the ashesqScatteredPlace: _____qBuriedPlace: _____qDonated: Arrangements made on _____ with _____Documentation located: _____qDisposed of as follows: _____5. Memorial gift to: _____6. Autopsy if doctor or family requests: q YesqNo7. Donate these organs: _____Location of organ donor card: _____Special Wishes_____3 Checking Account(s)Attach a separate summary if Bank name and address: _____Name(s) on account: _____Account number: _____Type of account: _____Location of passbook (or certificate receipt): _____Special INSTRUCTIONS : _____2.

5 Bank name and address: _____Name(s) on account: _____Account number: _____Type of account: _____Location of passbook (or certificate receipt): _____Special INSTRUCTIONS : _____Savings Account(s)1. Bank name and address: _____Name(s) on account: _____Account number: _____Location of passbook (or certificate receipt): _____Special INSTRUCTIONS : _____2. Bank name and address: _____Name(s) on account: _____Account number: _____Location of passbook (or certificate receipt):_____Special INSTRUCTIONS : _____Loans OutstandingProvide the following information for each loan other than mortgages:1. Bank name and address: _____2. Name on loan: _____4. Monthly payment: _____5. Account number: _____6. Location of papers and payment book (if any):_____7. Collateral (if any): _____8. Is there life insurance on the loan:qYesqNoDebts Owed to the Estate1. Debtor: _____2.

6 Description:_____3. Terms: _____4. Balance: $ _____5. Location of documents: _____6. Comments on loan status/discharge: _____4 Banking and FinanceCredit CardsBank Credit CardsAll credit cards in the deceased s name should be canceled or converted to the survivor s name. Provide thefollowing information for each Bank: _____ Telephone:_____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____2. Bank: _____ Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____Store Credit Cards1. Store: _____ Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____2. Store: _____ Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____3. Store: _____ Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____Other Credit Cards1.

7 Card name: _____Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____2. Card name: _____Telephone: _____Address: _____Name on card: _____Account number: _____Location of card: _____5 InvestmentsProvide the following information. (If necessary, attach a separate sheet.)StocksBonds, CDs, and Other Interest-Earning SecuritiesMutual FundsOther InvestmentsFor each investment, list the amount invested, to whom it is issued, the maturity date, and other applicable data,and the location of certificates and other vital Company: _____Name on certificate(s): _____Number of shares: _____Certificate number(s): _____Purchase price and date: _____Location of certificates: _____1. Company: _____Name on certificate(s): _____Number of shares: _____Certificate number(s): _____Purchase price and date: _____Location of certificates: _____2.

8 Company: _____Name on certificate(s): _____Number of shares: _____Certificate number(s): _____Purchase price and date: _____Location of certificates: _____4. Company: _____Name on certificate(s): _____Number of shares: _____Certificate number(s): _____Purchase price and date: _____Location of certificates: _____1. Issuer: _____Issued to: _____Face amount: $_____Bond number: _____Purchase price and date: _____Maturity date: _____Location of certificate: _____2. Issuer: _____Issued to: _____Face amount: $_____Bond number: _____Purchase price and date: _____Maturity date: _____Location of certificate: _____2. Company: _____Name on account:_____Account number: _____Number of shares or units: _____Location of statements, certificates: _____3. Company: _____Name on account: _____Account number: _____Number of shares or units: _____Location of statements, certificates: _____1.

9 Company: _____Name on account: _____Account number: _____Number of shares or units: _____Location of statements, certificates: _____4. Company: _____Name on account: _____Account number: _____Number of shares or units: _____Location of statements, certificates: _____67 InsuranceLife InsuranceTo collect benefits, a copy of the death certificate must be sent to each insurance company. Provide the followinginformation for each Death Benefits1. From employer (if applicable):Person to contact: _____ Telephone: _____ Life insurance:$ _____ Profit sharing:$ _____ Pension plan:$ _____ Accident insurance$ _____ Other benefits: _____Documentation located: _____2. From insurance companies (total amount):$_____3. From Social Security (lump sum plus monthly benefits): $_____4. From the Veterans Administration (amount):$_____5. From other sources: _____1. Policy Number: _____Amount: $_____Location of policy: _____Whose life is insured: _____Insurer s name and address: _____Kind of policy: _____Beneficiaries: _____Issue date: _____How paid out: _____Other options on payout: _____Other special facts: _____3.

10 For $ _____ in veteran s insurance,call the local Veterans Administration : _____2. Policy Number: _____Amount: $_____Location of policy: _____Whose life is insured: _____Insurer s name and address: _____Kind of policy: _____Beneficiaries: _____Issue date: _____How paid out: _____Other options on payout: _____Other special facts: _____Homeowner s/Renter s1. Coverage: _____2. Insurer s name and address: _____3. Policy number: _____4. Location of policy: _____5. Term (when to renew): _____6. Agent: _____ Telephone: _____Automobile1. Coverage: _____2. Insurer s name and address: _____3. Policy number: _____4. Location of policy: _____5. Term (when to renew): _____6. Agent: _____ Telephone: _____Medical1. Coverage: _____2. Insurer s name and address: _____3. Policy number: _____4. Location of policy: _____5. Through employer or other group: _____6. Agent: _____ Telephone: _____Other Insurance ( , Personal or Professional Liability)1.