See inside
Watch the page-by-page flip-through
Every page of the printed planner, in order, on a kitchen table — the tables you fill in by hand, the funeral and obituary pages, and the letters at the back.
Paperback · 52 pages
The will says who gets what. It doesn't say where anything is.
Most "after-death" organizers list your belongings and stop. This one is two books in one — the part you fill in, and the part your family reads when they need it.
The Ultimate End of Life Planner
- ✓21 fill-in sections: people, documents, accounts, property, wishes
- ✓11 pages written to your executor, not to you
- ✓Records where things are — never passwords or account numbers
- ✓Distribute last, not first — the mistake that costs an executor
- ✓A 24-year review log, so it's still true the day it's opened
One paperback. Free US shipping.
It's the last act of love you can give those that love you
A thoughtful, practical, and deeply compassionate resource
This will save your family a lot of heart ache and work
Try this first
Five things somebody answers in the first week.
Either they read the answer off a page you wrote, or they open every drawer in the house until they find it. Three weeks of that is normal.
- Who gets the first call, and does anyone have the number?
- Where is the signed will right now?
- Which bills keep drafting after you're gone?
- Can anyone open your phone?
- Who needs a certified death certificate, and how many?
If your answer to any of them is “I'd have to look,” then so will they — without you there to say where.
What the page does for them
| Unwritten | Written down |
|---|---|
| Whoever answers the phone first decides who gets called | A first-call list, in your order, numbers beside the names |
| Every drawer and every folder, for weeks | A locator for the will, the deeds and the policies, each with its place |
| Autopay keeps drafting until somebody finds a statement | Every account named, with what to stop and what to keep going |
| A locked phone, and the photographs locked with it | Which device holds what, and who the legacy contact is |
| A certificate count guessed at the funeral home | Who needs a certified copy, listed, so they order once |
Whichever ones you'd have to go and look up are what this planner is for.
Why it matters
The plan your family hopes exists — written down before they ever need it
When someone dies, the people who love them are handed a second job on the worst week of their lives: find the will, call the right people, close the accounts, and somehow guess what their parent or partner would have wanted. The End of Life Planner is the one place that answers those questions in advance — so your family can grieve instead of digging through drawers and shared inboxes.
It's a guided, fill-in organizer, not a legal form. You complete it at your own pace, a few pages at a time, and it stays useful for years. It records where things are and who to call — never passwords, PINs, or full account numbers — so it's safe even if it's misplaced, and it works alongside a will, trust, and advance directive rather than replacing them.
At 52 pages it's now two books in one. Part One is yours. Part Two is written to whoever ends up holding it — a named executor has a legal job with real deadlines and almost nobody has done it before, so those 11 pages lay out the order of operations from week one through the first anniversary.
Watch
A short overview
From the author
Watch: could your family find everything?
If you were gone tomorrow, could your family find every account, policy, and password — and your will? M. E. Hart on the reassuring fix — put it all in one binder this weekend, while it's still easy.
Peek inside
See the actual pages
Not a description of the pages — the pages. Click any one to read it full size.
Know what exists
Know how to get in
Know what to do first
What changes when they arrive
Here's what your family is holding on the day they need it — names and places, not intentions. One paperback, 52 pages, free US shipping.
They know who to call, and in what order
A first-call list you wrote — family, then your executor, then the attorney and the financial people — with the numbers beside the names, and who to tell before word gets out.
- Family, friends and the first three calls.
- Your executor, attorney and financial pros, and what each one is for.
Section 1 — Your people
They find things where you said they'd be
A locator for every paper that matters — the signed will, the trust, the advance directive, the deeds, the policies — and each account named with what to stop. Where it is, never the numbers themselves.
- Will, trust and directive locations; insurance, deeds and titles.
- Bills, autopay and subscriptions, with what to turn off first.
Sections 2 to 4 — documents, accounts, property
Your executor has instructions, not a stack of paper
Twenty pages written to whoever is in charge: week one, then 90 days, then the year — the certificate count, the benefits to claim and the ones to stop — with every task pointing at the page where you wrote the answer.
- Who needs a certified death certificate, so they order once.
- A 24-year review log, so it's still true the day it's opened.
The 11-page executor guide, and the review log
Start tonight
You don't have to fill in 52 pages tonight.
Three things you can do before the parcel arrives, on the back of an envelope.
Write down the first three people to call, with their numbers. Not just the names — the numbers are what's missing at 2am.
Find the signed will, the one with the witnesses' names on it, not a copy. Write down where it is on the same envelope.
Open your bank app and count the things that draft automatically. That's the list somebody has to stop, and today it doesn't exist anywhere.
Twenty minutes, and the first day is already easier for them. The planner is where the rest of it goes.
Fill it in over a few evenings, while you're the one who knows.
One paperback. Free US shipping.
What readers say
4.9(31 reader reviews)
Every review we have is below — nothing is filtered out.
“Gift of Love”
this book is very thorough. covers everything loved ones need to know in the event of your death. with great detail and instructions. it is written with compassion for those that ultimately will use information recorded . this book is a must have for everyone. it's the last act of love you can give those that love you
Misty, verified reader · Aug 2026
“Do it for your family and loved ones”
As someone who has lost loved ones unexpectedly and with advance knowledge; it doesn't get easier, the experiences may be similar but never the same, and one of the hardest parts is having to think, make decisions, and manage all that comes after hearing that your loved one is gone. This guide "The End of Life Planner" would have been priceless when my family navigated how to handle the affairs for each of my parents and it's something that I will absolutely have completed and put in the safe with the other important documents and items so my children and family can be relieved of the weight it is to make decisions, hoping they are doing what I had wished. In the losses we've experienced, we have had a Living Will that was questioned, Life Insurance that was fought over, and items that were unaccounted for causing relationships to end over the conflict - this one guide could've changed so much of that experience. Guiding you to start at what you find easiest to complete, this walked me through what I knew to have ready and tasks I need to work on to have ready when the time comes. Who to contact? My professionals? Please tell my therapist - she'll worry about me not showing for our sessions! Go to "My Key People". What legal documents do I have (DNR, Living Trust, Beneficiary designations, etc.)? Go to the Legal Documents & Directives! What to do with my valuables & heirlooms? Go to the Valueables & Heirlooms section! My only social media accounts, accessing my devices - what to do and how to access them? Go to Devices & Master Acces and Online Accounts & Wishes! Even if you think you don't own anything - there is so many areas that your loved ones could use your guidance on while you are here to tell them! I'd highly recommend this guide!
Beckerella, verified reader · Sep 2026
“THIS IS MY LAST GIFT”
The Ultimate The End of Life Planner-2026 Edition is a comprehensive and compassionate resource that helps individuals organize the practical, personal, and emotional aspects of end-of-life planning. More than a simple workbook, it serves as a detailed guide for documenting important information that loved ones may need during difficult times. The planner covers essential topics such as family and emergency contacts, financial accounts, investments, pensions, insurance policies, wills, trusts, heirlooms, and other critical documents. What makes this planner particularly valuable is it focuses on personal legacy and communications. It encourages users to record funeral preferences, favorite songs, meaningful memories, messages to loved ones, expressions of gratitude, and even apologies or final thoughts they wish to share. These sections help transform the planner from legal and financial tools into a heartfelt record of a person's wishes and values. The book also addresses healthcare planning by prompting users to consider advance directives and healthcare decisions, and important topic often raised by primary care physicians. By encouraging readers to document their wishes and support an executor or trusted representative, the planner help reduce uncertainty and stress from family members. Overall, The Ultimate The End of Life Planner is a thoughtful, practical, and well-organized tool that provides preparedness, dignity, and peace of mind for the recipient of the planner's debtors and their loved ones.
Debra, verified reader · Sep 2026
Read all 31 reviewsHide reviews
“Useful”
The End of Life Planner is a thoughtful, practical, and deeply compassionate resource for organizing the many details that families may otherwise struggle to manage during an already difficult time. Its clear structure covers essential information—from legal documents, finances, insurance, and property to digital accounts, medical wishes, pets, and personal letters. Particularly valuable are the straightforward checklists and reminders that transform overwhelming responsibilities into manageable steps. The emphasis on clarity, accessibility, and regular updates makes this planner genuinely useful rather than merely comprehensive. Most importantly, its compassionate tone reminds readers that thoughtful preparation is ultimately an act of generosity toward those we love.
John, verified reader · Aug 2026
“Great Planner for End of Life Activities”
The End of Life Planner is a great resource to make sure a persons affairs at end of life are understood and carried out as wished by the author. The planner, when kept up to date, clearly outlines individual(s) identified what needs to be done in a timely manner, where documents, bank accounts, various policies, etc. are as well as disbursement of items to whom. In addition, the planner clearly outlines the authors wishes for their remains and service. At a time when loved ones are potentially not thinking clearly this is a great tool.
Verified reader · Sep 2026
“Very comprehensive!”
This is an incredibly comprehensive planner to consolidate your information for your family when you eventually die. I am a grief specialist and I'm trying to normalize not using euphemisms for death. Anyways, I appreciated the planner includes pets, there are so many that end up in shelters when their owners die. Guide is well outlined for the elder in the first half and the surviving family member(s) in the second half. I highly recommend.
Lmk, verified reader · Sep 2026
“One of the most important planner you could own.”
This book is for you if you want to keep things organized for loved ones you left behind after you passed this life. It will make dealing with your death a lot easier(not that it’s easy in anyway) in terms of paperwork and what they need to do, who they need to call and so on. This Planner helps you plan everything for them even in death and also a little keepsake for them to remember you by. Highly recommend. Everyone needs this planner!
Nutchanard, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Everyone needs this.”
A complete, thorough, and comprehensive guide everyone needs, whether you want to admit it or not. This will save your family a lot of heart ache and work. Covers all the essentials plus things such as what to do with pets, traditions you would like to see passed on, digital records, and what you would like included in your obituary. Something no one wants to think about but every one should!
Kathryn, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Very important to have”
This is an amazing book. It will be perfect for those who love to keep their loved ones informed of everything. It will also be of great help for those who won't know what to do after their loved ones passing. I'm so glad there is a book like this out here. It's so detailed and even tells you what days to do things and what you should have to do. I highly recommend this book.
Kristie, verified reader · Sep 2026
“End of life planner should be a must in everyone's life.”
This is a handbook that would be helpful to everyone. If you fill it out correctly, your loved ones will know everything they need to know and where to find all the information so there's less work to do during the grieving period. There's no looking for bank account info, who needs to be contacted first, who has the keys to your home and who is named beneficiary.
Tammy, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Super easy and super helpful!!!”
This is an excellent end of life set up guide. It has all the templates you will need in the book. It even includes easy to follow instructions for those you are leaving behind. It also has spaces for you to write letters to those you choose to. Will definitely be getting a copy for my parents as well as myself in the near future!
Samantha, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Solid outline”
For those who have not experienced losing someone they were close enough to and had to be in charge of their wishes, this is a solid outline for what information is needed after you pass. While some people may require definitions for some of the terms used within, it is a good middle of the road guide for most.
CJ, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Perfect for helping family through a difficult time”
Although no one wants to think about this, it covers something I wish I had had when my grandfather passed. I will definitely be completing this so that my survivors have it hand to make their time handling my passing easier. I would highly recommend everyone doing it as well.
Charlie, verified reader · Sep 2026
“The End of Life Planner:”
The End of Life Planner: The author wrote this book with step-by-step instructions. Easy to follow! I found that it would go hand in hand with my grab n go manual that has information that would complement The End-of-Life Planner.
Genny, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Planning guide”
A guided resource for end of life information, first part for the member and second part is a guide for family members. very informative process and easy to follow questions and answering.
Barb, verified reader · Oct 2026
“Very informative”
First of all, the note at the beginning was very heartwarming and made things seem not so scary. This book was very comprehensive and seemed to have every single little detail.
Rachel, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Helping after death”
This book is amazing and simple when you need to let you loved ones know your wishes when you are gone. I am still fairly young, but I want to do it too.
Aaron, verified reader · Oct 2026
“Informative”
This book is a very helpful way to begin end of life plans. It breaks down section by section so that you throughly plan ahead.
Jamelia, verified reader · Aug 2026
“5 stars!!”
This planner is very thorough and covers all things that you should need. Only thing left out is more of the medical aspect.
Becky, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Plannind efficiency”
This was very helpful I wasn't aware off all the steps you should do to prepare for your passing efficiency.
Matilda, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Very Thorough Estate Planner”
Very thorough. Some sections may or may not apply, but they really thought if everything. Highly recommend!
Chris, verified reader · Oct 2026
“Very informative”
Great start to organizing important information. The tips on who to contact and where to start are great.
Keith, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Good resource and compassionate”
Very straightforward and easy to use. Good resource and compassionate regarding hard topics.
Hillary, verified reader · Sep 2026
“Planner”
Looks to be a very good way of keeping important and sensitive information organized.
Verified reader · Sep 2026
“Helpful!”
Exactly what I was looking for! Thank you!
Kathya, verified reader · Sep 2026
“It supplied everything I was looking for.”
Doree, verified reader · Jun 2026
“Practical”
Great book, very practical advice!
Sally, verified reader · Aug 2026
“Need it in binder format”
I do like how this lays out everything I think I might need. Not too different from others I've seen. I do feel like there isn't enough room to fill in everything I need to put in it. I need this in a binder format rather than a book format. It does pair with an emergency Binder which I didn't get, so it's entirely possible that, that is what I'm really looking for.
M., verified reader · Sep 2026
“Amazing and much needed resource”
Just like highschool, guided notes so you don't have to do everything yourself. Great resource for those things you don't want to think about but are necessary so your loved ones know exactly what you wanted.
Jennifer, verified reader · Sep 2026
“A good book”
This is a great book for people who want to plan for when they have to leave this world.
Crys1, verified reader · Oct 2026
“Very helpful”
This book is very informative and helps with organizing on what you should do.
Tara, verified reader · Aug 2026
Where the guidance comes from
Each office named beside the task that needs it.
The executor pages don't say “notify the relevant agencies.” They say which one, what to ask for, and where in this planner you wrote the answer they'll need. What they won't do is rule on your state's probate — that's your state's to say, and the page says so.
- Social SecuritySurvivor benefits to claim, and payments that must stop
- MedicareCoverage that ends, and who has to be told
- IRSThe final return, and who signs it
- State vital recordsCertified copies of the death certificate
Retirement In Order is written under the pen name M. E. Hart — a retired product leader who spent a career in healthcare and insurance, the two industries built on exactly the paperwork most families dread.
Good to know
Common questions
How do I start end-of-life planning?
The easiest way to start end-of-life planning is to work from a single guided planner instead of a blank page — it turns an overwhelming subject into a short list of prompts. Begin with the essentials families scramble for most: where your important documents live, your accounts and insurance, your medical wishes, and who to contact. You don't have to finish in one sitting; filling in a few pages at a time is what makes it far less stressful than trying to hold it all in your head.
What is an end of life planner?
It's a guided organizer that gathers everything your family would need to find and settle after you're gone — your key people, where your documents live, your accounts and property, and your medical and final wishes. The End of Life Planner adds a First Steps guide that walks your family through the actual handoff, with every task cross-referenced to the page that answers it.
How is this different from a will?
A will is a legal document that says who inherits what; this planner is the practical map your family uses to act on it. It tells them where the will is, who to call, which accounts exist, and what you wanted — the day-to-day details a will doesn't capture. It complements a will, trust, and advance directive; it does not replace them, and it isn't legal advice.
Is it safe to write all of this down?
Yes — by design. The planner records where things are and who to call, never passwords, PINs, Social Security numbers, or full account numbers. That makes it genuinely useful to the people you trust and useless to anyone who shouldn't have it, even if the book is ever misplaced. Keep it somewhere your executor or a close family member knows to look.
Who should fill this out?
Anyone who wants to spare their family a stressful guessing game — not just older adults. It's written in plain English for couples, solo households, and adult children helping a parent get organized. You can complete it alone or together, a few pages at a time.
Is this a book I write in?
Yes. It's a paperback guided organizer you fill in by hand — part planner, part journal, with prompts, labeled spaces, and room for legacy letters in your own words. Order the paperback and we mail it to you, or download the PDF and start tonight. Published under the pen name M. E. Hart as part of the Retirement In Order series.
Is there a PDF version of this end of life planner?
Yes — the same planner, as an instant download in the Retirement In Order shop. It is the full 52-page edition: Part One's 21 fill-in sections and Part Two's 11-page executor guide, exactly as they appear in the paperback. Nothing is abridged. The difference is the object, not the contents — print the PDF at home, or as many single pages as you like whenever something changes, versus a bound book that arrives ready to write in and sits somewhere your family will actually find it.
Does it cover what to do when someone dies?
Yes. Part Two is 11 pages written to whoever is in charge: week one (get the original will, order death certificates, secure the home, tell the bank but don't empty accounts), weeks two to four (probate, filing the will, opening an estate account), days 30 to 90, and everything due before the first anniversary. It also covers who needs a certified death certificate and how many to order, which benefits have to be claimed, which have to be stopped and in what order, and how to hand off or memorialize a digital life. Every step points to the page where the answer is written down. It's an order of operations, not legal advice.
Who is this planner not for?
Anyone looking for a will, a trust or an advance directive. This is none of those and won't stand in for them. It's also wrong if you want somewhere to keep passwords and account numbers: it asks for neither, on purpose, because a book holding both is the one thing you can't afford to leave in a drawer. What it does is record where things are, who to call and what you want, then walk whoever opens it through the first 30 days.
What if it isn't right for me?
Each book is printed for you one copy at a time. If your parcel turns up damaged or misprinted, send a photo within 30 days and we ship a replacement free — you keep the flawed copy. Because every copy is made to order, we can't take a book back once it has shipped. Contact details are at the bottom of this page.
Your next step
Write it down while you're the one who knows.
Twenty-one sections you fill in, and twenty pages that tell them what to do with it.
Your people, your papers, your accounts and your wishes, on pages your family can find — and a guide for the one who has to act on them. One paperback, posted to you.
What the money buys isn't a planner. It's the three weeks your family doesn't spend opening drawers.
One paperback. Free US shipping.
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