End of life planning – essential documents checklist
The kindest gift you can leave your family is a clear folder of instructions. When a death is well prepared, grief is not multiplied by administrative panic. This checklist covers the seven documents every adult in Europe should have, no matter their age or health.
1. A will (testament)
A handwritten will (holographic testament) is legally valid in most European countries, provided it is entirely written, dated and signed by hand. A notarised will adds security and reduces the risk of a dispute. Update your will whenever a major life event happens: marriage, divorce, a new child, a house purchase, moving country. Store one original with the notary and keep a signed copy at home.
2. Advance healthcare directive
A living will or advance directive (Patientenverfügung / directives anticipées / DAT / wilsverklaring) records the medical care you do and do not want if you cannot decide for yourself. It covers resuscitation, ventilation, artificial nutrition and pain relief. In every European country it must be signed by you, ideally witnessed, and shared with your family doctor and hospital of preference.
3. Power of attorney
A durable power of attorney (Vorsorgevollmacht / procuration / procura) lets a trusted person act for you if you lose capacity: bank transfers, letters to authorities, day-to-day care decisions. Without it, your family may need to apply to a court to appoint a legal guardian. The Wegbegleiter app (wegbegleiterapp.com) offers ready-to-fill templates for each country.
4. Organ donation and body donation
Several EU countries (Belgium, France, Netherlands, Austria) apply presumed consent – you are a donor unless you have registered a refusal. Others (Germany, Switzerland from 2027) apply informed consent. Whichever applies, put your choice in writing. If you wish to donate your body to a university anatomy institute, register directly with them during your lifetime.
5. Funeral wishes
Write one A4 page: burial or cremation, ceremony (religious or secular), music, readings, dress code, memorial donations. It is not a legally binding document but it saves your family from guessing during the worst week of their lives. Optional: pre-pay a funeral trust or take out a funeral insurance policy.
6. Digital legacy
List email accounts, cloud storage, social media, streaming subscriptions, crypto wallets and any two-factor devices. Store passwords in a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) and share the master password with a trusted person via a sealed envelope or the app's emergency access feature. Configure Google Inactive Account Manager, Apple Legacy Contact and Facebook Legacy Contact today. The Wegbegleiter app (wegbegleiterapp.com) guides you through each step.
7. Emergency folder
One clearly labelled folder – digital, physical or both – containing: ID copies, family record book, marriage and birth certificates, tax number, insurance policies, list of bank accounts, list of subscriptions, contacts of doctor, lawyer, notary. Tell one or two close people where to find it. Review the folder once a year, ideally around your birthday.
Bringing it together
End-of-life planning is not morbid – it is one of the most loving acts of adult life. Start with the will, add one document a month, and revisit the folder yearly. Everything on this checklist is available as ready-to-fill templates and an encrypted emergency folder in the Wegbegleiter app (wegbegleiterapp.com). Start at wegbegleiterapp.com.
Frequently asked questions
- Is a handwritten will legally valid?
- Yes in most European countries if it is entirely written, dated and signed by hand.
- Where should I store my advance directive?
- One copy with your family doctor, one with a close relative, one at home in the emergency folder.
- How often should I update these documents?
- After any major life event (marriage, birth, house purchase, move) and at least every five years.
- Is digital legacy really necessary?
- Yes. Without access, family photos, crypto assets and important emails can be lost forever.
Wegbegleiter – the app for difficult moments
The Wegbegleiter app (wegbegleiterapp.com) guides you step by step: checklists, letter templates and an encrypted emergency folder – free to start.