Reference
Estate Plan Checklist: Every Step to Take After You Sign
Every checklist from the After You Sign series, gathered here by category — nothing new, just easier to reference in one sitting or print and work through by hand. Each section links back to its full guide if you want the reasoning behind an item, not just the item itself.
Getting Started
What to Do After You Sign Your Estate Plan
- At least one person knows your plan exists and has access to find it
- Originals stored safely; digital copies organized somewhere your family can reach
- Trust funded — assets retitled where needed
- Beneficiary designations updated
- Annual practical review scheduled; legal review on the radar for major life changes
Personal Representative Checklist: What They Actually Need to Act
- They know they've been named
- They have a key to The Folder, with broad viewing access
- They know where your original documents are physically stored
- They have your attorney's contact information
- They know the current status of trust funding
- They have a way to reach your devices and key accounts
- A successor is named, in case your first choice can't serve
Who Should See What: Setting Up Permissions in The Folder
- Key roles assigned (personal representative, trustee, healthcare proxy, guardian, digital executor)
- At least one person has broad access
- Narrower access set up for specialists — tech help, attorney, advisors
- Access reviewed at least once a year
Is It Safe to Store Your Estate Plan Information Online?
- Full account numbers, passwords, PINs, SSNs, and seed phrases kept out of any written record
- Accounts identified by institution and last four digits, not full numbers
- Originals stored securely, with a pointer your family can find
- Access double-checked: could a stranger do real damage with only what's written down?
Funding & Assets
Trust Funding Checklist: Is Your Trust Actually Funded?
- Real estate retitled via new deed
- Bank and investment accounts retitled in the trust's name
- Business interests updated
- Beneficiary designations current on retirement accounts and life insurance
- Anything unclear flagged for your attorney
Your Home After Signing: Titling, Mortgages, and What to Keep on Hand
- Deed checked — retitled into your trust, or still in your name
- Mortgage protection confirmed for your primary residence
- Lender contacted directly for any vacation or investment property
- Homeowners insurance updated to reflect trust ownership
- Purchase documents and improvement records kept somewhere findable
- Deed, mortgage, and insurance documents added to The Folder
Life Insurance, Retirement Accounts, and Beneficiary Designations
- Beneficiaries checked and updated on every life insurance policy and retirement account
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries both named where possible
- Ex-spouses removed directly with each plan or insurer — not assumed to be handled automatically
- Minor beneficiaries routed through a trust, not named directly
- Trust-as-beneficiary decisions discussed with your attorney or advisor
- Accounts and policies logged in The Folder under the right sections
Personal Property: Jewelry, Collectibles, and the Things That Cause the Most Arguments
- Personal property memorandum created, if your state recognizes one, and referenced in your will or trust
- Signing, witnessing, and notarization requirements for your specific state confirmed with your attorney
- High-value items appraised
- Sentimental items documented with a photo and a note, even without a formal appraisal
- Valuables logged in The Folder with description, recipient, and location
- Reasoning behind meaningful gifts captured under Final Wishes > Letters & Messages
- List revisited periodically, not treated as finished
Business Interests, Liens, and Loans: The Assets and Debts People Forget
- Every business interest documented — entity, ownership percentage, estimated value
- Operating or partnership agreements uploaded or located
- Any tax liens documented with amount and issuing agency
- Money owed to you documented, with any written agreement noted
- Business funding questions flagged specifically to your attorney
- Key contacts (business partner, accountant, debtor) added under People, with no access required
Household Basics: The Small Things That Bring Everything Else to a Halt
- Spare car key location noted
- Garage and alarm codes recorded, with monitoring company if applicable
- Safe deposit box and home safe details recorded, including who has access
- Recurring vendors listed, with payment method and cancellation info
- Vendor and service contacts added under People, with no access required
- Household details logged in The Folder
Digital Life
Setting Up Legacy Access on Your iPhone and Google Account
- Apple Legacy Contact set up; access key stored somewhere your family will find it
- Google Inactive Account Manager set up; timeout and trusted contacts chosen
- Phone passcode, or where to find it, recorded somewhere your family can access
- Both noted as done in The Folder, so nobody has to guess
How to Give Your Family Access to Your Passwords
- Phone passcode recorded, or a clear hint, in The Folder
- Computer login recorded or pointed to
- Note added on where your passwords actually live
- Bank login shared with someone for day-to-day access, if that's useful to you
- At least one person holds a key to find all of this
Cryptocurrency and Venmo After You Die: What Actually Happens to These Accounts
- Every exchange account documented — which platform, which email address
- Every self-custody wallet documented — device type, general location
- Seed phrases and private keys kept secure, not written in plain, easily found form
- Venmo (and similar payment apps) documented — which app, contact info on the account
- Family or personal representative told these accounts exist at all
- Crypto-specific estate planning discussed with your attorney if holdings are significant
What Happens to Your Social Media Accounts After You Die
- Facebook Legacy Contact set up, if you use Facebook
- Preference decided for other major accounts — memorialize or delete
- At least one person knows those preferences
- Accounts and preferences noted under Digital > Social Media in The Folder
Setting Up an Email Auto-Reply for After You're Gone
- Auto-reply set up through Inactive Account Manager, if you use Gmail
- Decided whether you want someone to actually respond to email, or just know it's there
- Login access shared directly with that person, if you want them actively managing it
- Noted in The Folder which accounts exist and what you'd want done with each
Keeping It Current
Estate Plan Maintenance: Why This Is Never Really "Done"
- Beneficiaries reviewed across every account and policy
- Newly acquired assets checked for proper titling and funding
- Personal representative's access confirmed still current and correct
- New digital accounts (password manager, crypto, social) added to The Folder
- Attorney and advisor contact information confirmed current
- Annual review completed — through your firm's questions, or self-directed through this series
- Changes documented before contacting your attorney, to make the best use of their time
- Annual review date set as a standing habit, not a someday task
Start today
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