Planning Kits
All-in-One Options
Planning kits can help you organize important end-of-life decisions in one place and make your wishes easier for others to follow. This page highlights free and low-cost planning tools that guide you through medical preferences, final arrangements, and personal details—whether you’re just getting started or filling in the last pieces. These kits are designed to reduce confusion, prompt thoughtful decisions, and give loved ones clearer direction when it matters most.
Death With Dignity's "Life File"
FREE. Death With Dignity has a series of pages they call The Life File that is an excellent planning an organizing source.
You can also sign up for their email system that will periodically send you a nudge to work on some part of your planning project.
Death with Dignity is 501(c)(3) organization that provides the public with information on a broad range of end-of-life topics. They are most interested in passing right-to-die laws.
Five Wishes' Advance Health Care Directive
$5 FEE. This paper-based Advance Health Care Directive mostly applies to your care when you are unable to communicate for yourself. It can ask questions that you don’t know how to answer. For extra help in thinking through all of that, we feel Five Wishes does a very good job.
Five Wishes has been around for 40 years. They have created AHCDs that are legal in all states, in many languages, and versions for children and teens with terminal illnesses.
THEY DO CHARGEÂ a nominal fee and have packages available for families.
NOLO.com's Final Arrangements Kit
FREE. Put your wishes for your final arrangements in writing and give the gift of peace of mind to your loved ones with this all-in-one guide. Nolo’s Final Arrangements Kit includes the following forms:
- Burial or Cremation Form
- Funeral or Memorial Services Form
- Obituary Form