A letter of instruction is not a legal document. It has no formal requirements, doesn't need witnesses, and won't be filed with a court. That's exactly what makes it so valuable. It's where you put the practical information a will can't and shouldn't contain.

What it is — and isn't

A will distributes your assets and names your executor. It's formal, legally binding, and deliberately limited in scope. It is not the right place for account numbers, passwords, the name of your accountant, or your funeral wishes in any detail.

A letter of instruction fills in everything else. Think of it as the instruction manual your executor needs on day one — before probate begins, before attorneys get involved, before anyone knows where to start.

Because it's informal, it's also easier to update. You don't need an attorney every time your bank changes or you get a new insurance policy. You just update the document.

It is not legally binding

Anything you write in a letter of instruction is a request, not an order. Your executor is legally bound by your will, not your letter. If you want something to be enforceable — a specific bequest, a guardian designation — put it in your will. The letter handles the practical, not the legal.

What to include

Location of important documents

Your executor's first task is finding everything. Tell them where to look:

  • Your will (and any amendments)
  • Trust documents
  • Advance directives and healthcare proxy
  • Birth certificate, passport, Social Security card
  • Marriage and divorce certificates
  • Military discharge papers (DD-214) if applicable
  • Safe or safe deposit box — and where the key is

Financial accounts

  • Bank names and account types (not full numbers — just enough to find them)
  • Investment and brokerage accounts
  • Retirement accounts and where the beneficiary designations are on file
  • Outstanding loans or debts
  • Regular income sources (pension, Social Security, rental income)

Digital accounts and passwords

Don't list passwords directly in the letter if it's not stored securely. Instead, note where to find them — the name of your password manager and where the master access is stored.

  • Primary email accounts
  • Password manager location and access instructions
  • Subscription services to cancel
  • Cryptocurrency holdings and where seed phrases are kept

Insurance policies

  • Life insurance: company, policy number, how to file a claim
  • Health insurance (for COBRA notification timeline)
  • Home and auto insurance
  • Any other policies

Key contacts

  • Estate attorney
  • Financial advisor
  • Accountant or CPA
  • Insurance agent
  • Primary care physician
  • Clergy or celebrant if you want them involved in a service

Funeral and burial wishes

Your will is not the right place for funeral instructions — it often isn't read until after the service. The letter of instruction is. Be as specific as you want:

  • Burial, cremation, or other disposition preference
  • Specific funeral home (especially if you have a pre-need contract)
  • Service preferences — religious or secular, private or open, music, readings
  • Wishes for remains if cremated
  • Obituary guidance — what to include, what to leave out

Personal property not covered in the will

If you have specific wishes for items of sentimental (not financial) value — who should get your grandmother's jewelry, your record collection, your tools — note them here. Again, these aren't legally binding, but most families will honor them.

A letter to your family

Optional, but often the most meaningful part. This is where you say the things people need to hear — what mattered to you, what you hope for the people you're leaving, anything left unsaid. There are no rules. Write what you would want to read.

Format and storage

There are no formatting requirements. A Word document, a PDF, a printed binder — whatever you'll actually maintain and update. Closing Notes is designed specifically for this purpose and generates a clean, formatted PDF.

Store it somewhere your executor can find it promptly. Don't lock it in a safe they don't have access to. Tell them it exists and where it is.

Review and update it at least once a year, and after any major life event: a new account, a move, a change in your wishes.

How it works alongside your will

Think of them as a set. Your will is the legal instrument. Your letter of instruction is the operational guide. An executor who has both can move quickly, avoid costly delays, and spend less time searching for information at a moment when time and clarity are in short supply.

If you don't have a will yet, a letter of instruction is still worth having now — and it's a natural starting point for understanding what a will needs to cover.