What Is a Letter of Instruction? (And Why Your Will Needs One)
A will is the document most people think of when they think about estate planning. It names your beneficiaries, designates your executor, and gives legal instructions for distributing your assets.
But a will has real limitations. It speaks in legal terms. It does not explain where your account passwords are. It does not tell your family what to do first. It does not say which of your belongings have sentimental value and why. It does not include the practical information your family will actually need in the first 48 hours after you die.
A letter of instruction fills all of those gaps.
What Is a Letter of Instruction?
A letter of instruction (sometimes called a letter of intent or a personal effects memorandum) is an informal document that you write alongside your will to give your family practical guidance. It is not legally binding. It does not replace your will. But it is often more immediately useful than the will itself.
Think of it as the companion document to your legal paperwork: the will handles the law, and the letter of instruction handles real life.
Is a Letter of Instruction Legally Binding?
No. A letter of instruction is not a legal document. It does not go through probate court. It cannot override your will or change how your assets are distributed.
What it can do is provide context, guidance, and information that your family will genuinely need. Executors regularly say that a thoughtful letter of instruction made their job significantly easier, because it told them where to find things, who to call, and what the person actually wanted beyond the legal minimums.
What Goes in a Letter of Instruction?
There is no required format. You can write it as a letter, a list, or a combination. Here is what to include:
Location of important documents
- Where is your original will stored?
- Where is the durable power of attorney?
- Where are your insurance policies?
- Where is your organized document system?
Financial account details
- Names of all banks and financial institutions
- Account numbers or instructions for where to find them
- Financial advisor name and contact information
- Accountant name and contact information
- Safe deposit box location and where the key is
Digital accounts and passwords
- Email addresses and access instructions
- Online banking login information
- Social media accounts and what you want done with each
- Subscription services to cancel
- Password manager access instructions
Personal property instructions
- Specific items you want to go to specific people (beyond what the will covers)
- Sentimental items and the stories behind them
- Items you want donated and which organization
Funeral and burial preferences
- Burial or cremation preference
- Funeral service type: formal, informal, religious, secular
- Specific songs, readings, or speakers
- Whether you have pre-paid funeral arrangements, and with which funeral home
- Cemetery plot information if pre-purchased
What to do first
This is the most valuable section you can write. Walk your family through the immediate steps: who to notify, who to call, what the first week looks like. Your executor is likely grieving too. A clear sequence of steps is an enormous gift.
Personal notes and messages
A letter of instruction is also a place to say the things you want said. A note to your children. A message to your spouse. Thanks to the people who mattered. This part has nothing to do with logistics and everything to do with legacy.
How to Write a Letter of Instruction
You do not need an attorney. You do not need a specific format. You just need to start.
- Write in plain language your family will understand, not legal or financial jargon.
- Be specific. “My accounts are at the bank” is not useful. “My checking and savings are at First National, account numbers are in Folder 4 of my Orderly Affairs kit” is useful.
- Date it and update it whenever circumstances change.
- Tell at least one person it exists and where to find it.
Where to Keep Your Letter of Instruction
Your letter of instruction should be kept with your other important documents, somewhere your family can find it quickly. Do not store it in a safe deposit box that requires a death certificate to open, because your family needs access in the first hours, before they have dealt with any of that paperwork.
A lockable home storage system that at least one trusted person knows about is ideal. The Orderly Affairs kit includes a dedicated section for personal notes and instructions alongside all of your organized documents.
How Often Should You Update It?
Whenever something significant changes: a new account, a new insurance policy, a new relationship, a move, or any change in your digital accounts. Reviewing it once a year alongside your other estate documents is a reasonable habit.
A letter of instruction written five years ago and never updated can cause confusion rather than clarity. Outdated contact information and account details do not help anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a letter of instruction the same as a will?
No. A will is a legal document that goes through probate court and legally directs how your assets are distributed. A letter of instruction is informal and provides practical guidance: where things are, who to call, what you want for your funeral, and personal messages to your family. You need both.
Does a letter of instruction need to be notarized?
No. Because it is not a legal document, it does not need to be witnessed, signed before a notary, or formatted in any particular way. That flexibility is one of its main advantages: you can update it yourself, any time, without an attorney.
Can a letter of instruction override my will?
No. A letter of instruction has no legal standing. If there is a conflict between the two, the will controls. But for practical guidance (where documents are, funeral preferences, personal messages), the letter of instruction is the right place. Those things are generally not addressed in a will at all.
What happens if I do not write a letter of instruction?
Your family will manage without one, but they will have a harder time. They will not know who your accountant is, which email account you used for online banking, what your funeral preferences were, or whether that piece of furniture you always kept was meant for your daughter or your nephew. A letter of instruction fills in the human details that a will cannot.
Can I include a letter of instruction in my Orderly Affairs kit?
Yes. The Orderly Affairs kit includes dedicated space for personal notes and instructions as part of its organized document system, alongside your legal documents, financial records, and final wishes, so your family has everything in one place.