Recheck your plan after a life event
Choose a life event to see which of the 25 Family Readiness Standard checks to review. Each includes a linked guide or tool. Print the list, copy a link to your event choice or choose a yearly reminder.
- Free. No account needed
- Linked to the Standard
Which life event should you review?
What do your answers show?
Anyone with a copied link can see the selected life event. Your email stays out of the link.
Which checks match each life event?
Choosing an event shows review prompts. It does not identify missing papers or verify legal authority.
Marriage
Review your own recorded choices and instructions after getting married.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review whether your family has your lawyer's current name and number.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 15 The person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
Review whether the person you named still knows your wishes.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both still agree.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review each chosen person's first-step guide for changes you want to explain.
Standard check 24 You wrote down what you want after you die.
Review your written wishes for after your death.
Divorce
Review records naming people and the instructions you have shared. This review doesn't change anything legally.
Standard check 2 Each bank that would need your power of attorney has it on file.
Review which banks would need your existing power of attorney and what each has on file.
Standard check 3 Your doctors and your family can find your health care proxy or advance directive.
Review whether doctors and family can find your current health care papers.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review your lawyer's contact details. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 15 The person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
Review whether the person you named still knows your wishes.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both still agree.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review each chosen person's first-step guide for instructions that are no longer current.
Standard check 24 You wrote down what you want after you die.
Review your written wishes for after your death.
A new child
Review your own wishes and instructions. This tool does not choose a guardian or a beneficiary.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review your lawyer's contact details. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both still agree.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review whether each chosen person's guide explains the first steps you want them to know.
Standard check 24 You wrote down what you want after you die.
Review your written wishes for after your death.
A new grandchild
Review your own wishes and instructions without assuming a guardianship or financial change.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review whether each chosen person's guide explains the first steps you want them to know.
Standard check 24 You wrote down what you want after you die.
Review your written wishes for after your death.
A move to another state
Review locations, contacts and instructions. This tool does not decide whether legal papers remain valid.
Standard check 1 Someone besides you knows where your original will is.
Review where your original will is kept and who else knows its location.
Standard check 3 Your doctors and your family can find your health care proxy or advance directive.
Review whether your current doctors and family can find your health care papers.
Standard check 4 Someone you trust knows where your deed, titles and insurance policies are.
Review where your deed, titles and insurance policies are kept and who knows.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review your lawyer's contact details. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Standard check 13 A current list of your doctors and medications is easy to find.
Review whether your list of doctors and medications is current and easy to find.
Standard check 14 Your family knows which insurance cards and plans you have.
Review whether your family knows where to find your current insurance cards and plan information.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review location and contact instructions in each chosen person's first-step guide.
A new phone
Review your existing phone and account arrangements without recording sign-in secrets.
Standard check 16 Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager is set up, if you use them.
If you use Apple or Google, review the account arrangement and chosen person's instructions.
Standard check 17 If your password manager offers emergency access, someone you trust has it.
If your password manager offers emergency access, review its existing arrangement and the chosen person's instructions.
Standard check 18 Your family knows your phone carrier and whose name the account is in.
Review whether your family knows your current carrier and whose name the phone account is in.
Standard check 20 Your plan holds no passwords.
Review your plan for passwords or other sign-in secrets. Keep them outside this tool.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review phone and account instructions in each chosen person's first-step guide.
Standard check 25 The people you chose practiced their first steps in the last 12 months.
Review when the people you chose last practiced the first steps relevant to the new phone.
A new bank
Review the bank record, bill instructions and the guide your chosen person would use.
Standard check 2 Each bank that would need your power of attorney has it on file.
Review whether the new bank would need your existing power of attorney and what it has on file.
Standard check 6 Someone you trust knows every bank you use and which account pays each bill.
Review the bank and bill list your trusted person uses. Keep account numbers outside this tool.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review bank and bill instructions in each chosen person's first-step guide.
Standard check 25 The people you chose practiced their first steps in the last 12 months.
Review when the people you chose last practiced finding the bank and bill instructions.
The death of a spouse
Review your own plan after the loss. This is not a checklist for administering the estate.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review your lawyer's contact details. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 10 Your family knows how your pension and other income arrive.
Review whether your own pension and income instructions are current.
Standard check 15 The person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
If your spouse was the person named to speak for you, review who knows your wishes now.
Standard check 16 Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager is set up, if you use them.
If your spouse was named in an Apple or Google arrangement, review your own arrangement and instructions.
Standard check 17 If your password manager offers emergency access, someone you trust has it.
If your spouse was your password manager's emergency contact, review your own existing arrangement.
Standard check 19 Your social media accounts have a legacy contact or a written wish.
If your spouse was named for a social account, review your own account wishes and instructions.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both can still take their parts.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review each chosen person's first-step guide for instructions that named your spouse.
Standard check 25 The people you chose practiced their first steps in the last 12 months.
Review when the people now chosen last practiced their first steps.
The death of a chosen person
Review only the parts of your own plan that named this person. No authority transfers automatically in this tool.
Standard check 15 The person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
If this person was named to speak for you, review who knows your wishes now.
Standard check 16 Apple Legacy Contact or Google Inactive Account Manager is set up, if you use them.
If this person was named in an Apple or Google arrangement, review your own arrangement and instructions.
Standard check 17 If your password manager offers emergency access, someone you trust has it.
If this person was your password manager's emergency contact, review your own existing arrangement.
Standard check 19 Your social media accounts have a legacy contact or a written wish.
If this person was named for a social account, review your own account wishes and instructions.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both can still take their parts.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review each first-step guide that named this person.
Standard check 25 The people you chose practiced their first steps in the last 12 months.
Review when the people now chosen last practiced their first steps.
A diagnosis
Review paperwork and communication only. This tool gives no medical advice or decision-capacity assessment.
Standard check 3 Your doctors and your family can find your health care proxy or advance directive.
Review whether your doctors and family can find your health care papers.
Standard check 12 Medicare has your written permission, on form CMS-10106, to talk with someone you choose.
If you use Medicare, review whether its written permission record names the person you choose.
Standard check 13 A current list of your doctors and medications is easy to find.
Review whether your list of doctors and medications is current and easy to find.
Standard check 14 Your family knows which insurance cards and plans you have.
Review whether your family knows where to find your current insurance cards and plan information.
Standard check 15 The person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
Review whether the person you named to speak for you knows your wishes.
Standard check 21 You chose someone to step in and a backup, and both have said yes.
Review your chosen person and backup, and whether both still agree.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review whether each chosen person's guide explains the first steps you want them to know.
Standard check 23 You wrote down what you want if you can't decide for yourself.
Review your written wishes for a time when you cannot decide for yourself.
Retirement
Review account, income and benefit records only where those arrangements apply to you.
Standard check 7 You checked the beneficiaries on your retirement accounts and life insurance in the last two years.
Review your record of checking retirement-account and life-insurance beneficiaries. This tool does not suggest whom to name.
Standard check 8 Each of your brokerage accounts has a trusted contact on file.
If you use brokerage accounts, review whether each has a trusted contact on file.
Standard check 9 You've told Social Security who should manage your benefits if you ever need help.
If you use Social Security, review your recorded choice for managing benefits if help is ever needed.
Standard check 10 Your family knows how your pension and other income arrive.
Review whether your family knows how your current pension and other income arrive.
Standard check 12 Medicare has your written permission, on form CMS-10106, to talk with someone you choose.
If you use Medicare, review whether its written permission record names the person you choose.
Standard check 14 Your family knows which insurance cards and plans you have.
Review whether your family knows where to find your current insurance cards and plan information.
Buying a home
Review paper locations and bill instructions. This tool does not decide ownership or inheritance rights.
Standard check 4 Someone you trust knows where your deed, titles and insurance policies are.
Review where your deed, titles and insurance policies are kept and who knows.
Standard check 5 Your family has your lawyer's name and number.
Review your lawyer's contact details. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
Standard check 6 Someone you trust knows every bank you use and which account pays each bill.
Review which bank account pays each home-related bill in your private instructions. Keep account numbers outside this tool.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review paper-location and bill instructions in each chosen person's first-step guide.
A new password manager
Review the manager's supported arrangement and private instructions without putting credentials in the plan.
Standard check 17 If your password manager offers emergency access, someone you trust has it.
If the new manager offers emergency access, review its existing arrangement and the chosen person's instructions.
Standard check 20 Your plan holds no passwords.
Review your plan for passwords or other sign-in secrets. Keep them outside this tool.
Standard check 22 Each person you chose has a short guide with their first steps.
Review the password manager instructions in each chosen person's first-step guide.
Standard check 25 The people you chose practiced their first steps in the last 12 months.
Review when the people you chose last practiced their first steps for the supported arrangement.
When should you come back?
Return after another change or review the full Standard each year. An optional yearly email starts one year after you sign up for it and doesn't mention your event.
What should you know before reviewing?
Does this mean I need new legal papers?
No. These are review prompts. They do not identify missing or invalid papers, choose beneficiaries or guardians, or establish authority. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions.
What does a death or diagnosis change here?
After a death, review your own plan and the parts that named that person. After a diagnosis, review paperwork and communication. This tool does not administer an estate, assess capacity or give medical advice.
What does retirement change here?
It shows account, income and benefit checks to review where they apply. It does not assume you use Medicare, Social Security or a brokerage. It recommends no benefit, claiming age, insurance plan or investment.
What goes into a copied link?
Only your event choice. Anyone receiving that link can see the choice, so share it only if you want to. Do not enter names, dates, medical details or account information.
What does the yearly reminder contain?
A neutral invitation to review the full Standard. Your selected event is not included. Email is optional and only requested if you ask for that reminder. Each reminder email includes a delete link.
How does this tool work?
- 1What it does
See which Standard checks to review after marriage, a move, a new child or another life event. Follow related guides and choose a yearly reminder.
- 2How it decides
Choose one event. The tool shows its linked checks and a short review prompt for each. It does not score your plan or decide something is missing. The yearly reminder invites you to review the full Standard and returns you to this tool.
- 3Your answers
Your event choice is used in the browser. A copied link includes that choice, so share it only if you want to. Anonymous counts include no answers. The optional yearly reminder uses a neutral message without your event.
- 4What it is based on
The Family Readiness Standard supplies the checks. This event map is an editorial way to revisit them. It is not an outside rule about an event's effect. Review again after another change or each year.
- 5What it doesn't do
Review prompts do not create or verify authority, choose beneficiaries or legal papers, or give medical advice. A diagnosis covers paperwork only. Talk with a lawyer in your state about legal questions. It covers the United States. This is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.
This tool is general information, not legal advice. Plan Before You Die isn't connected with Medicare or any government office. Something wrong here? Tell us.