- An "In Case of Death" folder includes documents your loved ones will need after you pass away.
- You may keep information such as funeral arrangements, life insurance policies, and asset documents in your folder.
- Store the folder safely, digitally or physically, and tell a select few people how to access it.
New worries seem to constantly pop up when preparing for your own death, whether you expect it to occur in four months or 40 years. Who will take care of your kids or pets? What if you don't leave your family with enough money? What if your spouse can't find all of the necessary legal documents?
A 2026 USAA End-of-Life Financial Preparedness Study of 1,211 US adults assessed how prepared the participants were for end-of-life planning. Less than half had any of the survey's listed planning documentation in place, including life insurance for themselves or their partner (37%), emergency savings (27%), a will or estate plan (19%), funeral or burial instructions (15%), or a power of attorney or advance directive (15%).
In fact, 41% of those surveyed reported that they hadn't prepared any of those five items yet.
Setting up end-of-life plans can be difficult or laborious. The good news is that once they're ready, you can keep them all in one folder so your loved ones can easily find and use the information once you're gone. This is called an "In Case of Death" folder.
What is an In Case of Death folder, and what should you keep inside?
You may hear an "In Case of Death" folder referred to as an In Case of Death binder, a life file, or something similar. Regardless, it's exactly what it sounds like: one folder or binder (digital or physical) that contains all of the practical and financial information your family should know when you die.
The grief that comes with losing a loved one is often excruciating. It's hard to tap into the part of your brain that handles practical decisions and planning when you're overwhelmed with emotion. By making the necessary information easy to access, you're setting your family up for a calmer experience and maybe even financial success.
Here are the typical documents to keep in your In Case of Death folder:
- Letter of instruction, which explains what's in the folder and includes any other death wishes
- Pre-planned funeral arrangements
- Life insurance policy information
- Contact list of financial advisors, accountants, charities, or other people your family should contact or to expect to hear from
- Asset documents, including titles and deeds
- Legal forms, such as your birth certificate, marriage license, power of attorney, will, and living trust
- Copies of all of your physical keys
- List of passwords to your devices and online accounts, especially ones needed to pay bills or access money
- List of loans or credit cards, including lender information and online login details
- Instructions for child, pet, or plant care
- Advance directive that explains your medical wishes in case you are incapacitated before death
- Obituary
Items such as your bank account passwords and life insurance policy information can help your loved ones financially. Others, such as your funeral arrangements and obituary, help shorten their painful to-do list when you're gone.
Who to tell about your In Case of Death folder
If you have a financial advisor or estate attorney, tell them about your In Case of Death folder. These professionals may even help you put together the binder along the way.
Dan Lash, CFP® and AIF® at VLP Financial Advisors, also recommends telling the executor of your will, any trustees, your power of attorney, and the person designated to make medical decisions on your behalf about your In Case of Death folder.
A general rule of thumb is to tell at least two people where to find your In Case of Death folder. This way, if one of them forgets or becomes incapacitated, the other person will still know.
"Don't just tell those people about the folder," Lash says. "Also tell them where it is located and how to access it if it is in a safe, and give a copy of the documents to those named in the documents."
Where and how to store your In Case of Death folder
It can be a good idea to safely store your folder both digitally and physically. The folder includes sensitive information, so you don't want it to be easy for just anyone to find — but you want your loved ones to know where it is when the time comes.
For digital copies, consider using an online tool such as Dropbox or Google Drive, then grant access to a select few people.
You can keep physical copies in a safe deposit box at a bank or at home.
"An at-home safe should be secured and fireproof, and you should share how to access the safe with the named people who will execute the wishes in the documents," Lash says.
Assembling an In Case of Death folder may seem overwhelming, but you don't have to do it all at once. Chip away bit by bit. And if you aren't sure where to start, contact your financial advisor or an estate attorney to create a plan.
Created by the Commerce Team at Business Insider with USAA.
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