Estate planning template
Updated on [Date]
Letter of Instruction Template
Created by [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName]
Helps family members and legal representatives manage final wishes, personal details, and financial instructions after death.
Legal
Letter of Instruction Template
Give clear written direction to a bank, adviser, or team member with a letter of instruction that states what to do, who it applies to, and when it takes effect.
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1. In Regards to After-Death Procedures
Illustrative details for Eleanor Bennett only. Replace these examples with personal instructions before use.
A. Cremation Preferences
- My preference is cremation.
- Please scatter my ashes at the family cabin with Daniel and the children present.
- If cremation cannot be arranged, I prefer burial near my parents at Sample Memorial Gardens.
- Please include a short, non-denominational gathering with family.
B. Funeral / Memorial Service
- Type of service requested: small memorial gathering.
- Preferred location: Sample Community Chapel, Sample City.
- Preferred speaker: my sister, Claire Bennett.
- Please play my favorite piano recording and invite family members to share memories.
- Notify Daniel Bennett, Maya Bennett, Owen Bennett, and Claire Bennett before any public announcement.
C. Obituary Details
Item | Instruction |
Preferred obituary contact | Daniel Bennett, 202-555-0101 |
Publication outlets | Sample City Gazette and the community center newsletter |
Family members to acknowledge | Spouse Daniel; children Maya and Owen; sister Claire |
Predeceased family members to mention | Parents Ruth and Samuel Bennett |
Important dates, milestones, or service background | Born in 1952; married Daniel in 1980; retired school librarian and community volunteer |
Photo preference | Use the blue-sweater portrait in the home office photo folder |
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2. In Regards to Handling My Financial Affairs
Illustrative financial details for Eleanor Bennett only. All names, contact details, and account references below are examples to replace before use.
A. Insurance Policies
Policy Type | Company | Policy Number | Agent / Contact | Phone | Document Location |
Life Insurance | Example Life Co. | SAMPLE-LIFE-001 | Jordan Lee | 202-555-0110 | Home office, blue insurance folder |
Auto Insurance | Example Auto Co. | SAMPLE-AUTO-002 | Taylor Morgan | 202-555-0111 | Home office, blue insurance folder |
Property Insurance | Example Home Co. | SAMPLE-HOME-003 | Taylor Morgan | 202-555-0111 | Home office, blue insurance folder |
B. Securities & Investments
Asset Type | Institution / Firm Name | Account Number | Agent or Advisor | Phone | Statement / Record Location |
Bank Account | Example Community Bank | SAMPLE-BANK-101 | Avery Stone | 202-555-0112 | Home office, green banking folder |
Certificate of Deposit | Example Community Bank | SAMPLE-CD-102 | Avery Stone | 202-555-0112 | Home office, green banking folder |
Investment Portfolio | Example Brokerage | SAMPLE-INV-201 | Morgan Chen | 202-555-0113 | Home office, gray investments folder |
Mutual Fund | Example Brokerage | SAMPLE-FUND-202 | Morgan Chen | 202-555-0113 | Home office, gray investments folder |
U.S. Savings Bonds | Registered to Eleanor Bennett | SAMPLE-BOND-203 | Morgan Chen | 202-555-0113 | Home office, gray investments folder |
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2. In Regards to Handling My Financial Affairs
C. Retirement Plans (Pension, 401(k), IRAs)
Illustrative account and memorial-gift details for Eleanor Bennett only. Replace all example records and contacts before use.
Plan Type | Institution / Employer | Account Number | Designated Beneficiary | Contact Name | Phone | Record Location |
Pension | Example School District | SAMPLE-PEN-301 | Daniel Bennett | Casey Rivera | 202-555-0114 | Home office, red retirement folder |
401(k) | Example Retirement Services | SAMPLE-401K-302 | Daniel Bennett | Casey Rivera | 202-555-0114 | Home office, red retirement folder |
IRA | Example Brokerage | SAMPLE-IRA-303 | Daniel Bennett | Morgan Chen | 202-555-0113 | Home office, red retirement folder |
D. Safe Deposit Box
Item | Details |
Institution location | Example Community Bank, 100 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 |
Box number or identifying information | SAMPLE-BOX-12 |
Key location | Labeled envelope in home office fireproof cabinet |
Authorized access names | Eleanor Bennett and Daniel Bennett |
Contents summary | Property deed copies, family photographs, and jewelry inventory |
E. Memorial Gifts & Charities
- I request memorial gifts be directed to the Example Public Library Fund, 200 Sample Avenue, Sample City, CA 00000.
- Please invite donations in lieu of flowers; no suggested amount.
- If family prefers another cause, choose a local literacy program.
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3. In Regards to Handling Estate Affairs
Illustrative estate details for Eleanor Bennett only. Replace these examples with personal records and wishes before use.
A. Original Will Location
- Original will is in the blue estate folder inside the home office fireproof cabinet.
- Copies of my will are in the home office filing drawer marked Estate.
- The revocable trust and related estate planning binder are in the same fireproof cabinet.
B. Legal & Personal Documents
Document | Storage Location |
Birth Certificate | Home office fireproof cabinet, blue estate folder |
Marriage Certificate | Home office fireproof cabinet, blue estate folder |
Tax Returns | Home office filing drawer, Tax Returns folder |
Military Records | Not applicable in this example |
C. Tangible Assets & Collectibles
- Please offer the oak dining table to Maya and the framed landscape painting to Owen.
- Return Claire's borrowed photo albums to her.
- Keep the family recipe book with the photographs until Daniel and the children can review them together.
D. Pet Care & Guardianship
- Maple is my medium-sized brown dog.
- Maya Bennett is my preferred caregiver for Maple.
- If Maya cannot take Maple, please ask Claire Bennett.
- Maple's veterinarian is Dr. Jamie Park at Example Veterinary Clinic, 202-555-0115.
- Maple eats one cup of dry food twice daily. Her food and care notes are in the kitchen drawer.
E. Digital Assets, Social Media & Accounts
- Daniel Bennett should coordinate matters involving my digital accounts.
- Instructions for accessing my password manager are in a sealed envelope in the home office fireproof cabinet. No passwords are listed in this document.
- Please save family photos from cloud storage, close recurring online subscriptions, and ask family before memorializing social media accounts.
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3. In Regards to Handling Estate Affairs
F. Estate Advisors Contact List
Advisor Type | Name | Address | Phone | Email or Notes |
Lawyer | Robin Ellis | 100 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0116 | |
Banker | Avery Stone | 102 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0112 | |
Accountant | Jamie Patel | 104 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0117 | |
Broker | Morgan Chen | 106 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0113 | |
Financial Advisor | Riley Brooks | 108 Example Lane, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0118 |
4. Contact Information for Family Members
The people below are illustrative contacts for Eleanor Bennett. Replace each entry before using this document.
Name | Relationship | Address | Phone | Email or Notes |
Daniel Bennett | Spouse | 10 Sample Street, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0101 | |
Maya Bennett | Daughter | 12 Sample Street, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0102 | |
Owen Bennett | Son | 14 Sample Street, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0103 | |
Claire Bennett | Sister | 16 Sample Street, Sample City, CA 00000 | 202-555-0104 |
5. Additional Information, Notes or Comments
Example reminder: Daniel knows where the home office fireproof cabinet is. Ask Maya and Owen to review the family photographs together before distributing them.
Additional notes: Enter additional information, notes, or comments*
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Execution / Signature Block
I, [Sender.FirstName] [Sender.LastName], prepared this Letter of Instruction Template to help guide my surviving family members, fiduciaries, and legal representatives. I understand that this document is intended to accompany, and not replace, my formal estate planning documents.
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Letter of Instruction Template Overview
A request sent as a casual email is easy to misread or overlook. This letter of instruction template gives you ready sections for the sender, the recipient, the specific instructions, key dates, and contact details, so the request is clear the first time and nothing depends on a follow-up call. Built as a reusable instruction letter, it works for financial, business, and project requests alike.
The letter generates in your branding and adapts to each request. Share one link the recipient opens on any device, and keep every directive letter filed by recipient, so a record of who was told what and when is always easy to find.
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How to Use This Template
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Who Benefits From Letter of Instruction Template?
Business owners, advisers, and administrators get the most from a letter that leaves no doubt about the request.
Business Owner
Instruct a bank, accountant, or supplier in writing, with the details they need to act without calling you back.
Financial Adviser
Record a client's instructions in a consistent format, so every request is documented the same way and easy to find later.
Office Administrator
Send formal direction on behalf of your team using one standard layout, instead of rewriting a letter each time.
Recipient
See exactly what is being asked, by whom, and by when, so you can act on the instruction without chasing clarification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about using this template
It should include the sender, the recipient, the specific instructions, key dates, and contact details. A letter of instruction template gives you these sections ready to fill in, so the request is clear the first time.
Yes. Generate the first draft from a short prompt, then use AI to rewrite, tighten, or restructure any section in seconds.
Open with who you are and who the letter is for, state the instruction plainly, add key dates, then close with contact details. Short, direct sentences work best for this kind of letter.
Fully. This letter is editable end to end in the drag-and-drop editor, so you can add, remove, or reorder sections to match your request.
Yes. Add your own instructions, dates, and contact details straight into this letter template, then adjust the wording to fit your situation.
Yes. Your logo, colours, and fonts are pulled from your website and applied automatically, so the letter looks on-brand without any manual design.
Give instructions that are easy to follow
Start from a ready letter layout and fill in only what matters, instead of writing one from scratch.
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