Family Guidance & Final Instructions
This document is for the people you love.
When the time comes, it will help them know where to start — where to find things, who to call, what you wanted, and what mattered to you. None of it is legally binding. All of it is useful.
You don't have to finish this today. Fill out what you can, skip what you're not ready for, and come back when you are. The legacy message at the end is entirely optional — but the families who have it always say it meant more than anything else.
Your progress saves automatically. Come back whenever you're ready.
If you've already filled out the Estate Planning Questionnaire, some of this is pre-populated for you — funeral wishes, document locations, and a few other details carried over so you don't need to enter them twice.
You can share this with your spouse or partner. Use the share link to give them access.
The PDF version is what your family will see. When you're ready, download the PDF — that's the document to print, share with your executor, or keep with your will. We've designed it to feel personal, not like a form.
Questions? Your Cherry Hill team is here to help.
Where to Find Everything
When something happens, the first question your family and executor will have is: where is everything? This section answers that.
Don't enter actual passwords here. Just tell your family where to find them — password manager, secure note, etc.
Immediate Action Steps
The first few weeks after someone passes are a blur. This section gives your family a short list of things that need attention right away — so they're not guessing.
Your executor will also have access to the Executor Checklist, which provides a detailed step-by-step guide for the full estate settlement process.
My Trusted Contacts
These are the people your family should reach out to. Having the names and numbers in one place saves time and stress during a difficult period.
Other Key Contacts
My Personal & Family Wishes
These aren't legally binding — they're guidance. Writing them down takes the guesswork away from the people who'll be making decisions during an emotional time.
Funeral and Memorial
Household and Family Transition
Personal Belongings & Family Keepsakes
These are the items that probably won't appear in your will — the everyday things and family pieces that matter to the people who love you. Writing them down now saves your family from having to guess, and prevents the kind of small disagreements that can become big ones during grief.
Named Bequests
General Guidance
Your executor will use this information alongside the Estate Inventory's Personal Property & Belongings section to track the actual distribution. What you write here is their guide.
Reflections or Legacy Message
This section is entirely optional. But if you have something to say to the people you love — a memory, a piece of advice, a thank you, an apology, something you never found the right moment for — this is the place.
Some people write a paragraph. Some write pages. Some write to everyone together; some write individual notes. There's no right way to do this. And if you're not ready, leave it blank. You can always come back.
Or Handwritten
Many people prefer to write this by hand. Scan it, photograph it, or have us help you add it to your file.
Individual Messages
If you have specific words for specific people, write them here.
Ready to Submit?
Your family will have access to this document when they need it most. You can save your progress anytime and come back later.