Survivor Checklist | Potter's Messages

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About Me — My Personal Information

Fill this section out first. Your survivor will need these details on day one.

Fill First

🔐

Master Credentials — Start Here

Throughout this checklist you will see credential fields asking for passwords, PINs, combinations, and login information. For each one you have two options: enter the credential directly, or describe where to find it using the toggle. If all your credentials are in one place — a USB drive, a sealed envelope, a password manager — describe it here once. You can then reference this location from any credential field below instead of entering each one individually.

Where all my credentials can be found

Legal Identity

Legal First Name

Middle Name

Legal Last Name

Date of Birth

Place of Birth (City, State)

Social Security Number

Driver's License # & State

Home Address

Other Properties / Addresses

Military & Benefits

Veteran? (Yes / No / Branch)

VA Claim / ID Number

Social Security Benefit (monthly)

Medicare / Medicaid ID

Document Locations

Original Will / Trust Location

Birth Certificate Location

Passport Location

Marriage / Divorce Certificate(s)

Military Discharge Papers (DD-214)

Access & Credentials

Fireproof Safe — Location & Combination / Key

Safety Deposit Box — Bank, Box Number & Key Location

Password Manager / Master Passwords

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My Important Contacts

Everyone you may need to call in the days and weeks ahead.

Reference

Legal & Financial Professionals

Estate Attorney

Name

Firm

Phone

Email

Address

Notes

Financial Advisor

Name

Firm

Phone

Email

Accounts Managed

Notes

Accountant / CPA

Name

Firm

Phone

Email

Notes

Insurance Agent(s)

Name

Agency

Phone

Email

Types of Policies

Notes

Employer & Benefits

Employer / HR Department

Employer Name

HR Contact Name

HR Phone

HR Email

Benefits to Claim

Personal & Spiritual

Primary Care Doctor

Religious Leader / Clergy

Trusted Close Friend

Executor of My Estate (if not you)

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Immediate — First 24 to 48 Hours

The most time-sensitive steps. Work through these as soon as possible.

Urgent

Notifications

Notify immediate family members of the passing

Family members to notify & contact information

Contact a funeral home to begin arrangements

My preferred funeral home

My burial / cremation wishes

Pre-paid arrangements?

Preferred cemetery / disposition

Contact my estate attorney — see Important Contacts section

Notify my employer / HR — ask about pension, 401k, and life insurance benefits

Notify my religious leader or clergy for service planning

Documents & Access

Locate my original Will and / or Trust — see Personal Information section for location

Obtain at least 12 certified copies of the death certificate

Banks, insurance companies, courts, and government agencies all require originals. Order extras — they are inexpensive now and costly to re-order later.

Locate my life insurance policy and contact the insurer to begin a claim

Insurance Company & Policy #

Claims Phone

Benefit Amount

Policy Location

Locate Social Security card and birth certificate — see Personal Information section

Secure the home — check locks, key holders, and alarm

Who has a key to my home

Home alarm code / security system

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First Week — Days 3 through 7

Government agencies, financial accounts, and property steps.

This Week

Government & Benefits

Social Security Administration — call 1-800-772-1213 to report the passing and ask about survivor benefits

Veterans Affairs (if veteran) — call 1-800-827-1000 to ask about burial benefits, survivor benefits, and pension

Notify Medicare and / or Medicaid to stop payments

Contact pension plan administrator and file survivor benefit claim

Pension Administrator & Phone

Account / ID Number

Financial Accounts

Notify primary bank — freeze, transfer, or close accounts as directed by my attorney

Bank Name

Account Number(s)

Branch & Phone

Online banking login

Notify any secondary bank accounts

Secondary Bank(s), Account Numbers & Phone

Online banking logins for secondary accounts

Contact investment / brokerage accounts and notify my financial advisor

Brokerage Name & Account #(s)

IRA / 401k / 403b Accounts

Brokerage / investment account online login

File all life insurance claims — you need: death certificate, policy number, and claim form. Also ask about employer-provided life insurance and AD&D.

Locate and begin canceling or transferring credit cards

Credit Cards & Issuers

Property & Insurance

Locate vehicle titles and notify DMV

Vehicle(s) — Make, Model, Year, Title Location

Notify home and auto insurance providers

Home Insurance — Company & Policy #

Auto Insurance — Company & Policy #

Other Policies

Continue paying the mortgage / rent until legal transfer is complete

Mortgage Servicer & Account #

Monthly Payment & Due Date

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First Month — Weeks 2 through 4

Legal estate steps, digital accounts, utilities, and household administration.

This Month

Legal & Estate

File the Will with the probate court if required in your state

Obtain Letters Testamentary from the court — order at least 6 certified copies

Formally notify all creditors of the passing in writing

Create a complete inventory and appraisal of all estate assets

Transfer or re-title real estate as directed in the Will

Properties & Deed Locations

Cancel driver's license at the DMV and surrender passport to the State Department

Digital Accounts & Social Media

Cancel or transfer recurring subscriptions and memberships

Subscriptions to cancel

Manage social media accounts per my wishes

Full account-by-account details, login credentials, and wishes are documented in the Social Media & Online Accounts section of this checklist.

Access and manage my email accounts

Primary Email Address

Secondary Email(s)

Email account password(s)

Request mail hold or forward with USPS — visit usps.com or your local post office

Utilities & Household

Transfer or cancel all utilities

Electric — Provider & Account #

Gas — Provider & Account #

Water — Provider & Account #

Internet / Cable — Provider & Account #

Phone — Carrier & Account #

Other Utilities

Notify HOA if applicable

HOA Name & Contact

Monthly Fee & Due Date

Notify any storage units, PO boxes, or rental properties

Details

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Ongoing — Months 1 through 12 and Beyond

Tax filings, estate settlement, and long-term financial steps.

Ongoing

Tax Filings

File a final federal income tax return (Form 1040) for the year of death — due April 15 the following year

File final state income tax return

Determine if an estate tax return is required (federal Form 706)

File estate income tax return (Form 1041) if the estate generates income during administration

Estate Settlement

Pay all valid estate debts and creditor claims

Distribute estate assets to beneficiaries as directed in the Will

Close the estate formally once all debts, taxes, and distributions are complete

Update beneficiary designations on your own surviving accounts

Review and update your own estate planning documents

💰

My Complete Financial Picture

A full account of assets, debts, and financial relationships for the executor.

Reference

Real Estate

All Properties (address, estimated value, mortgage balance)

Bank & Investment Accounts

All Bank Accounts (bank, type, account #, approx balance)

Investment / Brokerage Accounts

Retirement Accounts (401k, IRA, 403b, pension)

Insurance Policies

All Insurance Policies (type, company, policy #, benefit amount, beneficiary)

Debts & Liabilities

All Outstanding Debts (type, creditor, balance, monthly payment)

Other Valuables & Digital Assets

Jewelry, art, collectibles, or other valuables (description, location, estimated value)

Vehicles, boats, RVs (make, model, year, title location, lien holder)

Money owed to me (loans I made, pending settlements)

Cryptocurrency or digital assets — wallet, exchange, and access credentials

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My Devices

Computers, tablets, and phones — descriptions, logins, and recovery keys.

Digital

Computers (PC / Mac / Laptop)

Device Description

Operating System

Login password / PIN

Disk encryption key or recovery key (BitLocker / FileVault)

Second Computer — Description

Second computer login

Tablets (iPad / Android / etc.)

Device Description

Apple ID / Google Account

Passcode / PIN

Second Tablet — Description

Second tablet passcode

Phones

Phone Description

Carrier

Phone Number

Apple ID / Google Account

Passcode / PIN

SIM PIN (if set)

Second Phone — Description

Second phone passcode

Other Devices & Notes

Smart home devices, security cameras, routers, and other connected devices

📱

My Social Media & Online Accounts

Every platform I used, my wishes for each, and how to access them.

Digital

My Wishes for All Accounts

General instruction for managing my digital presence

Facebook

Profile URL or Username

My Wish

Legacy Contact (if memorializing)

Notes

Facebook login credentials

Instagram

Username

My Wish

Notes

Instagram login credentials

Profile URL

My Wish

Notes

LinkedIn login credentials

X / Twitter

Username

My Wish

Notes

X / Twitter login credentials

TikTok

Username

My Wish

Notes

TikTok login credentials

YouTube

Channel URL or Name

My Wish

Notes

YouTube / Google account login

Username or Profile URL

My Wish

Pinterest login credentials

Snapchat

Username

My Wish

Snapchat login credentials

Other Accounts

Any other platforms, forums, gaming accounts, dating apps, or community memberships not listed above.

Other accounts — platform names, usernames, and wishes

Accounts that may have a monetary balance (PayPal, Venmo, Cash App, etc.)

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Additional Notes

Anything else I want you to have.

Notes

After I Am Gone — Your Guide

About Me — My Personal Information

My Important Contacts

Immediate — First 24 to 48 Hours

First Week — Days 3 through 7

First Month — Weeks 2 through 4

Ongoing — Months 1 through 12 and Beyond

My Complete Financial Picture

My Devices

My Social Media & Online Accounts

Additional Notes

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