Where Do I Start? A Simple Guide to Getting Your Affairs in Order

Most people put this off — not because they don’t care, but because it’s not obvious where to even begin. Here’s a simple starting point.

What are the five things that matter most?

1. Name someone to make healthcare decisions for you if you ever can’t speak for yourself.
2. Write down your wishes — medical care, funeral preferences, anything you want your family to know.
3. Find your key documents — will, insurance policies, ID, property records — and note where they are.
4. Tell someone you trust where things are and what you’d want.
5. Revisit it once a year, or after a big life change — a move, a marriage, a new grandchild.

That’s it. You don’t need to solve everything this week.

Why does this matter more than it seems?

Families rarely struggle with grief alone — they struggle with not knowing. Who has authority to make decisions? Where’s the insurance policy? What did Mom actually want? Getting even the basics organized removes most of that uncertainty later, for the people who’ll need it most.

What can wait?

You don’t need to decide everything now. Burial versus cremation, specific funeral details, and complex estate planning can come later. Start with the essentials above - the rest can follow at its own pace.

Do I need a lawyer to get started?

No. You can do a lot of this on your own - writing down wishes, listing documents, naming who should be contacted. A lawyer becomes useful once you’re ready to draft or update a will, trust, or power of attorney.

Isn’t this only for people who are older or sick?

No - this is really about your family, not your age. Anyone with people who depend on them or love them benefits from having this in one place.

What if I don’t know all the answers yet?

That’s normal. Start with what you do know. Everendium’s Final Day Plan lets you save your progress and come back to it over time.

What’s a gentle next step?

If you’re not sure where to start writing things down, Everendium’s Final Day Plan walks through this a section at a time, starting with the easy parts first.

Prefer something simpler to print and fill in by hand? Download our free Family Emergency Information Sheet.

If your closest people aren’t legal relatives, see chosen family and death and LGBTQ+ elders and end-of-life planning.

Document requirements and legal rules vary by state. This is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice; an attorney or financial professional can tell you what applies to you.