A health crisis or a death in the family rarely comes with warning. In those moments, families often find themselves searching through drawers and filing cabinets, trying to work out what exists and where it is kept. A simple estate planning checklist can change that. By organising a handful of key documents now, while everyone is well, you can give the people you love clarity and calm when they need it most.
Below are the 10 documents we encourage every family to locate, check and store safely. This is general, non-legal information, and requirements differ between Australian states and territories, so please confirm legal details with a solicitor or official sources.
Why organising affairs before death matters
Organising affairs before death isn't about expecting the worst. It is about making life easier for the people who will step in for you, whether that is during a hospital stay, a period of lost capacity or after you have passed away.
Our founder, Jane Rooke, spent 20 years in aged care senior management as a Registered Nurse. She has seen how much stress families carry when they can't find a will, don't know who the decision-makers are, or have no record of accounts and policies. Having documents in one place won't take away grief, but it can remove a great deal of confusion.
Your estate planning checklist: 10 key documents
1. Your will
Your will sets out who receives your estate and who you've chosen as executor. Note where the original is kept, who prepared it and when it was last reviewed. If it is more than a few years old, or your circumstances have changed, consider asking your solicitor to review it.
2. Advance Care Directive
An Advance Care Directive records your future health care wishes and names the people you trust to make decisions if you can't. In South Australia it replaced the older Medical Power of Attorney and Enduring Power of Guardianship from 1 July 2014, and must be witnessed by a suitable authorised witness. Other states use their own forms. Our advance care planning page explains more, and you can read about the difference between a will and an advance care directive.
3. Enduring Power of Attorney
This document lets someone you trust manage your financial affairs if you lose capacity. In South Australia, an Advance Care Directive does not cover money, so this is a separate and important document. Without one, an application to SACAT may be needed before anyone can act for you.
4. Identity and personal records
Birth certificate, marriage certificate, any divorce papers, passport, driver's licence, Medicare card and pension or concession cards. These are often needed by funeral directors, banks and government agencies, and can take time to replace if lost.
5. Property documents
Details of any property you own, including how it is held (in your sole name or jointly), mortgage details, council rates notices and any lease agreements. How property is held can affect whether a grant of probate is needed, which our probate preparation page explains in more detail.
6. Bank and investment accounts
A list of every bank, credit union, share registry and investment platform you use, with account types and contact numbers. You don't need to record balances. The aim is for someone to know each account exists and who to call.
7. Superannuation and death benefit nominations
Your super fund name, member number and a copy of any death benefit nomination. Superannuation is often paid by nomination and may sit outside your estate, so it is worth checking whether your nomination is current and, if binding, still valid.
8. Insurance policies
Life insurance, funeral cover, income protection, health insurance, and home and contents policies. Note the insurer, policy number and any nominated beneficiaries. Some policies are held inside super, so check there too.
9. Debts, bills and regular payments
Loans, credit cards, utilities, phone plans and subscriptions. A simple list helps your family keep essential services running during a hospital stay and helps an executor close or settle accounts later.
10. Digital accounts and wishes
Email, social media, online banking, photo storage and other digital services. List the accounts and note your wishes for each, such as closing, memorialising or passing on photos. Store access information securely, ideally in a password manager with instructions kept alongside your will.
Want a ready-made place to record all of this? The self-guided workbook includes a document locator, financial inventory, executor readiness and probate-preparation checklists. Download the Estate Readiness Workbook
Where to keep everything
Once you've gathered your documents, choose a single home for them. Many families use a clearly labelled folder or a fire-resistant box at home. Original wills are often held by the solicitor who prepared them, in which case a note of the firm's details is enough.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that the right people know where to look. Tell your executor and your decision-makers where your documents are and how to access them. Our article on how to prepare your executor offers practical ideas for that conversation.
Talking with your family about your documents
Gathering paperwork is one part of the job; talking about it is the other. You might start by simply saying, "I've been getting my affairs organised, and I'd like you to know where things are." That small sentence often opens the door to deeper conversations about your wishes.
If you are an adult child supporting an ageing parent, you may find it easier to approach the topic gently, over time, rather than all at once. Focus on reassurance: this is about making sure their wishes are respected, not about taking control.
Keeping your checklist up to date
An estate planning checklist only helps if it is current. Set a reminder to review your documents once a year, perhaps around a birthday or tax time. Also review them after major life events such as:
- marriage, separation or divorce
- the birth of a child or grandchild
- buying or selling property
- changing super funds or insurers
- a new diagnosis or change in health
If any of these changes affect your will or legal documents, speak with your solicitor about updating them.
Where to from here
You don't need to organise all 10 documents in one sitting. Start with the will and your decision-makers, then work through the rest a little at a time. Every item you complete is one less thing your family will have to search for.
If you'd like guidance, our Estate Readiness Consultation is a 90-minute session that helps you organise documents, clarify decision-makers and plan for executor readiness, with a printable workbook and personal action plan to take away. We're based in Adelaide, South Australia, and offer telehealth consultations nationally. Learn more on our estate readiness page, or get in touch when you're ready. Care & Legacy Advisors are happy to go through the process alongside you.