In Case of Death Folder — What to Include
An “in case of death” folder is exactly what it sounds like: a collection of every document, account number, password, and instruction your family would need to handle your affairs if you died tomorrow.
It’s not morbid. It’s a gift.
Most families spend weeks sometimes months — trying to piece together a loved one’s financial life after they’re gone. Bank accounts go unfound. Insurance claims get missed. Subscriptions keep billing on autopilot. All while the family is in the middle of grief.
In case of death, the folder changes entirely.
What to Put in an In Case of Death Folder
Here’s a complete checklist of everything your folder should contain:
Legal Documents
- [ ] Last will and testament
- [ ] Trust documents (if applicable)
- [ ] Power of attorney (financial and healthcare)
- [ ] Healthcare directive / living will / advance directive
- [ ] Letter of instruction (informal guidance for your executor)
Financial Accounts
- [ ] Bank accounts — institution name, account numbers, branch contact
- [ ] Investment accounts — brokerage name, account numbers
- [ ] Retirement accounts — 401(k), IRA, pension — plan administrator contact
- [ ] Life insurance policies — company, policy number, beneficiaries, how to file a claim
- [ ] Annuities
- [ ] Outstanding debts — credit cards, loans, mortgage
Property and Assets
- [ ] Real estate deeds
- [ ] Vehicle titles
- [ ] Safe deposit box — location, bank, key
- [ ] Storage unit — facility name, unit number, access code
Digital Life
- [ ] Email account logins
- [ ] Online banking logins
- [ ] Social media accounts (and what you want done with them)
- [ ] Password manager login or master password list
- [ ] Subscription services to cancel (Netflix, Spotify, Amazon, etc.)
- [ ] Domain names or websites you own
Personal Identification
- [ ] Social Security card and number
- [ ] Birth certificate
- [ ] Passport
- [ ] Marriage certificate
- [ ] Divorce decree (if applicable)
- [ ] Military discharge papers / DD-214 (if applicable)
- [ ] Citizenship or naturalization papers
Insurance
- [ ] Life insurance (as above)
- [ ] Health insurance — carrier, member ID, how to handle final claims
- [ ] Homeowner’s or renter’s insurance
- [ ] Auto insurance
- [ ] Long-term care insurance
- [ ] Umbrella policy
Final Wishes
- [ ] Funeral preferences (burial vs. cremation, service type, location)
- [ ] Cemetery plot information
- [ ] Pre-paid funeral arrangements
- [ ] Obituary notes — people to mention, achievements, tone
- [ ] Who to notify — friends, colleagues, organizations
- [ ] Organ donation preferences
Practical Information
- [ ] Utility accounts and providers (electric, gas, water, internet)
- [ ] Mortgage or lease details — lender/landlord contact, account number
- [ ] Home alarm system code and company
- [ ] Key contacts — attorney, accountant, financial advisor, doctor
- [ ] Recurring bills and automatic payments
Why Most People Don’t Have One
Ask almost any adult whether they have their important documents organized, and the answer is usually the same: “I’ve been meaning to do that.”
It’s not that people don’t care. It’s that the task feels enormous and there’s no obvious place to start. Do you create a spreadsheet? Buy a binder? Use an app? How do you organize it? What format does your family actually need?
Most people cobble something together, a folder here, a note in their phone there, and never finish. Which means when something happens, their family still has to search.
How to Actually Set It Up (Without the Overwhelm)
The key is to break it into categories and work through one section at a time. You don’t have to do it all in a single afternoon, though most people do.
Start with what you already have. Pull out any important documents you know the location of even if they’re scattered. Birth certificate, will, insurance cards, whatever you can find.
Note what’s missing. As you go through the checklist above, you’ll discover gaps: accounts you’ve never written down, policies you’ll need to dig up, a will that needs updating.
Add instructions for each section. This is the step most DIY folders skip — and it’s the most valuable part. For each category, write a brief note explaining what the documents are, where the accounts are held, and what your family should do first. Your executor shouldn’t have to guess.
Store it somewhere findable. The folder only helps if your family can locate it. Tell at least one trusted person — a spouse, adult child, or executor — exactly where it is.
Review it once a year. Accounts change, policies update, people move. A brief annual review keeps everything current.
The Problem with a Plain Folder
A plain folder from the office supply store gives you storage. It doesn’t give you structure, instructions, or a process.
That’s the gap the Orderly Affairs kit was designed to fill.
Instead of staring at a blank folder wondering what to include, you get:
- 57 pre-labeled folders — already organized by category, covering every area of your life
- 82 double-sided instruction sheets — the front guides you through what to gather, the back tells your family what to do with it
- A USB drive for digital files and passwords
- A fireproof document bag for your most critical papers
- A durable lockable storage box that keeps the entire system together and safe
The instruction sheets are what make this different from anything else. Your family won’t just find a pile of documents; they’ll find a step-by-step guide explaining each section in plain language.
Most people complete the full setup in one afternoon.
When to Do This
Now. Before a health scare. Before you’re old enough to “need to worry about it.” Before an accident forces your family to figure this out without any guidance.
The people who struggle most after a loss are never the ones who said, “I’ll wait until I’m older.” They’re the ones who never realized how much their family would need this.
Start with the Orderly Affairs kit →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an in case of death folder?
An in case of death folder is an organized collection of your most important documents, account information, passwords, and final wishes kept in one place so your family can handle your affairs without searching.
What documents should be in an in case of death folder?
Your in case of death folder should include your will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, life insurance policies, bank and investment account information, Social Security card, birth certificate, passport, property deeds, digital account logins, and your final wishes for funeral and burial arrangements.
Is an in case of death folder the same as a death binder?
They’re the same concept with different names. Some people call it a death binder, an in case of death folder, an end-of-life binder, or an emergency document folder. All refer to an organized system that gives your family what they need after you pass away.
How do I organize my in case of death folder?
Organize by category: legal documents, financial accounts, property, digital life, personal identification, insurance, final wishes, and practical information. For each section, add a brief note explaining what the documents are and what to do with them. The Orderly Affairs kit comes pre-organized with instruction sheets already written.
Where should I keep my in case of death folder?
Keep it somewhere your family can access a home office, a fireproof safe, or a dedicated lockable storage box. Tell at least one trusted person exactly where it is. Don’t keep it somewhere so secure that no one can find it in an emergency.
The Orderly Affairs kit includes 57 pre-labeled folders, 82 instruction sheets, and everything your family needs to get your affairs in order, all in one lockable box. Shop now →
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