A letter of instruction is a plain letter, usually two to five pages, that you leave for your executor and family. It tells them who to call, where your papers are, what accounts exist and what you would like done. Extension services at Ohio State and the University of Florida both describe it the same way: helpful, but not legally binding.
Quick start: download the blank letter of instruction template in Word (DOCX) or plain text (TXT) template, or copy the outline in the "Free template" section below.
| Part of the letter | What to write |
|---|---|
| People to contact | Executor, lawyer, accountant, financial adviser, employer, close friends |
| Where documents are | Will, trust, insurance policies, deeds, titles, tax returns, birth and marriage certificates |
| Money | Banks, brokerages, retirement plans, pensions, crypto, debts and automatic payments |
| Digital life | Phone, computer, email, cloud storage, password manager, social media |
| Funeral and burial | Burial or cremation, prepaid plans, service wishes |
| Family and pets | Care notes for dependents, pets, and anything time-sensitive |
| Personal messages | Optional notes to people you love |
What a letter of instruction is, and isn't
The letter is information. A will is a legal document that decides who inherits. The difference matters:
- A will must follow your state's rules (signatures, witnesses) and goes through probate. Courts enforce it.
- A letter of instruction has no required format, needs no witnesses and can be changed any time. Nobody is legally bound to follow it.
So the letter should never be the only place you say who gets something valuable. If a gift matters, put it in the will. Some states that follow the Uniform Probate Code let a will refer to a separate signed list of tangible personal property, such as jewelry or furniture (Massachusetts § 2-513 is one example). That list is a different document with its own rules. Ask your lawyer whether your state allows it.
Other things called a "letter of instruction"
Search results mix three different documents with the same name:
- Estate letter of instruction: the one this guide covers, written for your family.
- Brokerage or bank letter of instruction: a signed request asking Fidelity, Vanguard, Computershare or a bank to move or re-register assets. Executors often send one after a death, but it is a transaction form, not a planning document.
- Beneficiary letter of instruction: a form some banks and brokerages ask a named beneficiary to sign when claiming an account. It is part of the claim, not something you write in advance.
- Shipper's letter of instruction (SLI): an export shipping document. Unrelated.
How to write a letter of instruction
- Start from the template below, or a blank page with the seven headings.
- Fill in the practical sections first: contacts, document locations, accounts. Leave personal messages for last.
- Write the way you'd explain it to your executor across the table. Short sentences, no legal language.
- Date and sign it. A signature isn't required, but it shows the letter is yours and which version is current.
- Give a copy to your executor, or tell them exactly where it is.
What to include in a letter of instruction upon death
1. Who to contact first
List your executor and an alternate, your estate lawyer, accountant, financial adviser, insurance agents and employer's HR department, with phone numbers and email addresses. Add the people who should hear the news personally rather than from social media.
2. Where your documents are
Say where each original is kept: will and any trust, powers of attorney, health care directive, life insurance policies, deeds and vehicle titles, recent tax returns, birth and marriage certificates, military discharge papers, and any safe deposit box with where its key is. Ohio State's fact sheet suggests covering the safe deposit box contents too.
3. Accounts, policies and debts
Name each institution and the account type, not the full account number or the login. For example: "Checking at First National, statements in the blue folder." Include:
- bank and credit union accounts;
- brokerage accounts and retirement plans (401(k), IRA, pension), noting any you know have named beneficiaries;
- life insurance and annuities;
- crypto exchange accounts and wallets (see the crypto letter of instruction template for that part);
- mortgages, loans and credit cards;
- bills paid automatically, and subscriptions to cancel.
4. Your digital life
Your family will need to get into your phone or computer before they can find most of the above. Write where the device passcode can be found, whether you use a password manager and how its emergency access works, and whether you set up Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager. Don't write passwords in the letter itself.
5. Funeral, burial and organ donation
Burial or cremation, a prepaid plan or plot and where its paperwork is, the kind of service you want, and any religious or cultural requests. Organ donation decisions belong on your state registry or driver's license too, because the letter may not be read in time.
6. Dependents, pets and the house
Who should look after a pet, the vet's name, medication schedules, which neighbour has a key, when the rent or property tax is due. These are the small things that go wrong in the first two weeks.
7. Personal wishes and messages
Who you'd like to have family photos or a particular keepsake (remember: not binding), and any notes you want people to read. Keep the long personal letters as separate envelopes if you like, so the practical letter stays easy to scan.
Free template
Download the blank Word (DOCX) or plain text (TXT) version. No sign-up.
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION
Written by: ____ Date: ____ (replaces all earlier versions)
This letter is information for my executor and family.
It is not my will. It contains no passwords.
1. Contact first
Executor: ____ Alternate: ____
Lawyer: ____ Accountant: ____
Financial adviser: ____ Employer HR: ____
People to call personally: ____
2. Where my documents are
Will / trust: ____
Powers of attorney / health directive: ____
Insurance policies: ____
Deeds, titles, tax returns: ____
Safe deposit box and key: ____
3. Accounts and policies (institution, type, where statements are)
Banks: ____
Investments and retirement: ____
Life insurance / annuities: ____
Crypto: see separate crypto letter, kept at ____
Debts and automatic payments: ____
4. Devices and digital accounts
Phone / computer passcodes are kept: ____
Password manager and emergency access: ____
Apple / Google / other legacy settings: ____
5. Funeral and burial wishes: ____
6. Dependents, pets, home: ____
7. Personal items and messages (not legally binding): ____
8. Review log: ____
Letter of instruction sample (fictional)
This letter of instruction example is short on purpose. A real one is usually two to five pages.
Contact first: my sister Dana (executor), 555-0142. If she can't act, my friend Luis. Our lawyer is R. Patel at Patel & Moore.
Documents: the signed will and the life insurance policy are in the fireproof box in the hall closet. The key is with Dana.
Money: checking and savings at Lakeside Credit Union. 401(k) through my employer (beneficiary is Dana). A Coinbase account, explained in the separate crypto letter in the same box.
Bills on autopay: mortgage, electricity, phone, two streaming services. Cancel the streaming ones.
Funeral: cremation, small service, prepaid plan with Hillside, paperwork in the same box.
Pets: Miso goes to Luis, who has agreed. Her food and vet details are on the fridge.
Where to keep it
The letter only helps if someone reads it quickly. Common choices:
- with your will, if the will is somewhere your executor can reach without a court order;
- a copy with your executor, in a sealed envelope;
- an encrypted copy that is sent to a chosen person if something happens to you.
Avoid a safe deposit box as the only copy, since the bank may require court papers before anyone can open it. Tell at least one person where the letter is.
Keep it current
Update the letter when you open or close an account, move, change your executor, or get a new phone. A quick review once a year is enough for most people. Put the date at the top and destroy old copies so nobody follows outdated instructions.
Common questions
What is a letter of instruction?
An informal letter to your executor and family listing who to contact, where your documents are, what accounts and policies exist, and your funeral and personal wishes. It helps them act quickly, but it is not a will and isn't legally binding.
Is a letter of instruction legally binding?
No. Ohio State University Extension describes it as having no legal requirement and no binding force. Put anything you need enforced, such as who inherits, in your will.
Does a letter of instruction need to be notarized?
No. A notarized letter of instruction isn't required, because it is an informal document with no witnesses or notary. A brokerage letter of instruction asking a firm to move assets is different and may need a signature guarantee.
Should I include passwords?
No. A letter is read by several people and is easy to copy. Say where passwords can be found (a password manager with emergency access, or a sealed note held by your executor) instead.
How is it different from a will?
A will decides who inherits and goes through probate. The letter explains the practical details: who to call, where things are, what you'd like done. Most people need both.
Is there an official letter of instruction form?
No. There's no government form; any format works. The template above, in Word or plain text, covers the usual sections, and you can add or remove anything.
Can I write one letter of instruction for heirs and beneficiaries together?
Yes. One letter addressed to your executor, heirs and beneficiaries is common. Keep private notes to individual people in separate envelopes.
How often should I update it?
Whenever something important changes, plus a short yearly review. Date every version.