The handling of a person's personal affairs after death can be made much easier if he or she has left a letter of instruction. A letter of instruction is a document given to an executor or attorney that gives some or all of the following information.

• Name, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons who should be notified about the death and their relationship to the deceased.
  
• Where the person's will is located.
  
• Any instructions about the person's funeral or burial arrangements.
  
• Where the person's important records are located, such as:
  
  • birth certificate;
    
  • baptismal certificate;
    
  • marriage certificate or divorce judgment;
    
  • title to automobiles the person owns;
    
  • deed to the person's house or other real estate;
    
  • military discharge papers for a veteran;
    
  • naturalization or citizenship papers;
    
  • social security card.
• Where any safety deposit boxes are located and where the keys are kept.
  
• A listing of all bank accounts together with information on where passbooks or account statements are kept.
  
• Where any bills are located.
  
• Where any insurance policies are located.
  
• Where any tax returns are located.
  
• Where any jewelry or other valuables are kept.

This information will make it easier to locate all of the documents needed to administer an estate and carry out a person's wishes after his or her death. During a time of grief, even close family members may forget the location of important papers or the key to a safety deposit box.