Most Australians have a Will. Far fewer have left their family with everything else they'll actually need — the accounts, the passwords, the contacts, the documents that make an already difficult time far harder than it needs to be.

Nobody wants to think about this. That's precisely why most people don't. But the conversations that don't happen before someone dies tend to become the most painful and time-consuming ones after. Finding out your parent had three superannuation accounts across different funds, or that their online banking password died with them, or that the insurance policy existed but nobody knew which insurer — these aren't edge cases. They're what families deal with regularly.

This article is about changing that. Not with complex legal structures or sophisticated planning — just a clear, honest account of what your family will need to find, and a checklist to help you get it organised.

The best gift you can give your family isn't a large estate. It's a well-organised one — where nothing important is hidden, missing, or unknown.

Why this matters more than most people realise

What happens when this isn't done
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Estates take longer to settle. Executors spend months tracking down accounts, policies, and documents that could have been listed on a single page. Every week of uncertainty costs time, money, and emotional energy.

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Money gets lost. The Australian Tax Office estimates billions of dollars sit in lost or unclaimed superannuation. Families don't always know what accounts existed, let alone how to claim them.

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Digital assets become inaccessible. Email accounts, cloud storage, subscription services, online banking — all of it requires access. Without passwords or instructions, accounts are often locked permanently.

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Grief is made harder. The practical burden of piecing together a financial life falls on the people who are least equipped to handle it. Good organisation is one of the most considerate things you can do.

The checklist

What follows isn't a legal document — it's a practical guide to what your family will need to locate, access, and act on. Work through each section and record the relevant details somewhere secure that your executor or nominated person can find.

1
Key Contacts
 
Executor of your Will Name, phone number, and relationship. Make sure they know they've been nominated.
 
Financial planner, accountant, and solicitor Name and contact details for each. Your family will need to speak with all three.
 
Doctor and key medical specialists Relevant for health directives, medical history, and any ongoing treatments.
 
Insurance contacts The name of your insurer and policy numbers for life, health, income protection, and home insurance.
2
Legal Documents
 
Valid Will — with its location clearly noted Where is the original? Who holds it — you, your solicitor, a trustee company? Is it up to date?
 
Enduring Power of Attorney and Guardianship documents Who has authority to make financial and personal decisions if you lose capacity before you die?
 
Advance Health Directive (if applicable) Your documented wishes for medical treatment in situations where you cannot communicate them.
3
Financial Accounts
 
Bank accounts — all of them Institution name, account type, and account number. Include any accounts you rarely use.
 
Superannuation and pension details Fund name, member number, and importantly — your binding or non-binding death benefit nomination. This determines who receives your super and it does not automatically follow your Will.
 
Investment accounts and platforms Managed funds, share portfolios, platforms like Panorama or Hub24, SMSFs. Include the platform name, login details, and any adviser managing the account.
 
Insurance policies — life, health, home, income protection Policy numbers and insurer contacts. Note whether any policies are held inside superannuation.
On superannuation — a common misunderstanding

Your superannuation does not automatically form part of your estate. It is distributed by the trustee of your super fund according to your death benefit nomination — or at their discretion if no nomination exists. If your nomination is outdated or lapsed, the money may not go where you intend. Check your nomination regularly, and make sure your family knows which fund(s) you hold.

4
Debts and Liabilities
 
Mortgages and home loans Lender, loan account number, approximate balance, and whether life insurance is attached.
 
Personal loans and car finance Lender and outstanding balance.
 
Credit card accounts Card provider and approximate outstanding balance.
 
Lease or rental agreements Property address, landlord or agent contact, and lease term.
5
Property and Assets
 
Real estate — titles and approximate values Address, ownership structure (sole, joint tenants, tenants in common), and where the title documents are held.
 
Vehicles Registration details and any finance attached.
 
Valuables and collectibles Art, jewellery, antiques, or other items of significant value. Note their location and any insurance or valuation records.
 
Business interests Any ownership stakes, partnership agreements, or shareholder agreements. These can significantly complicate an estate if not clearly documented.
6
Digital Access
 
Master list of usernames and passwords — securely stored A password manager is ideal. If not, a physical list in a secure location that your executor knows about. Do not store this in an email or unsecured document.
 
Access to email, social media, and cloud accounts Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox — these often contain financial documents, photos, and records that your family will want to retrieve.
 
Subscription services to cancel Netflix, Spotify, software licences, gym memberships, phone plans. These continue charging until cancelled — often for months after a death.
On digital access — a growing problem

Digital estates are one of the fastest-growing complications in estate administration. Without access credentials, accounts can be permanently lost — including banking apps, investment platforms, and decades of personal records stored in cloud services. Some platforms have formal "legacy contact" or "inactive account" processes; check whether yours do and set them up now.

7
Other Important Information
 
Funeral wishes or prepaid arrangements Burial or cremation preference, specific wishes, and whether any arrangements have been prepaid.
 
Location of important identity documents Birth certificate, marriage certificate, passports, citizenship documents, divorce certificates if applicable.
 
Safe deposit boxes and storage units Location, key or access code, and what is stored there.

Where to keep all of this

The checklist is only useful if your family can find it. A document that exists but cannot be located is not much better than no document at all.

Some practical options: a sealed envelope with your Will, held by your solicitor or a trusted person and clearly labelled. A fireproof home safe that your executor knows how to access. A shared folder in a password-protected cloud service, with access instructions held separately. Whatever you choose, tell at least one trusted person — your executor, spouse, or adult child — where it is and how to access it.

Review it every few years, and whenever your circumstances change significantly — a new property, a change of super fund, a new insurance policy, or a change in who you'd want handling things.

A note on what this isn't

This checklist covers the practical — the information your family needs to find and act on. It doesn't replace the legal documents themselves. A valid Will, up-to-date superannuation nominations, and appropriate Powers of Attorney are separate matters that require professional advice to get right.

If any of those aren't in order, that's worth addressing. The checklist gives your family a roadmap. The legal documents determine what actually happens.

Download the PDF version
Personal Finance Checklist for Loved Ones
Download checklist

Diligent Financial Planning is a fee-only advisory firm that aims to help our clients achieve more with greater financial certainty. Read more about our services or get in touch with our team.

This article is general information only and does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. It is not intended as legal or financial advice. Estate planning involves complex legal and financial considerations that vary by individual circumstance. Before acting on any information in this article, seek personalised advice from a qualified financial adviser and solicitor.

Chintan Engineer (AR No. 1006106) is an Authorised Representative of Diligent Financial Services Pty Ltd (AFSL No. 535390). Prepared on behalf of Diligent Financial Planning Pty Ltd (AR No. 1234150). This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without the permission of Diligent Financial Planning.