A letter of instruction is often formulated at the same time as estate planning, but there are no legal requirements in Ohio for a letter of instruction. While it cannot be a legally enforceable substitute for a properly executed will, a letter of instruction can give your loved ones guidelines to help facilitate and carry out your wishes after your death. Typically these letters include things like your attorney contact information, preferred funeral director, location of important paperwork like your social security card, will, or tax returns, information on assets such as bank accounts or real estate, information on insurance from property to life, and arrangements for after your death that can range from burial lot information to funeral instructions.

Our estate planning attorneys help our clients craft their own letters of instruction, or create one for clients as a part of their estate plans. After reviewing your current plan or working with you to create a new plan, we will include all the important subjects that need to be addressed in your letter of instruction. Call Thomas Law Group to discuss your estate plan and letter of instruction. If you are not ready to complete a full estate plan, a letter of instruction can even be hand written… so what are you waiting for? Take a minute to make sure that your loved ones don’t have to guess at your wishes.