Free printable
People to Notify List
By Jason Su · Updated September 18, 2026
If someone had to step in for you tomorrow, they would face a question nobody prepares for: who needs to be told? This sheet answers it in one page — the professionals who hold your accounts, the family members who must hear it from you rather than from a stranger, and the friends whose numbers nobody else would know.
Why this belongs in the binder
Most of the work after a death is not legal. It is a phone list. Banks need notifying, the Social Security Administration needs notifying, insurance needs notifying, and someone has to cancel the paper delivery. Families rebuild this list from scratch while grieving, and they always miss someone.
Writing it down now costs you twenty minutes and saves them a week.
The sheet
Start here
My full legal name: _____________________________________
Date of birth: ______________ Social Security number kept at: ____________
Professionals who hold my affairs
| Who | Name | Phone | Account or policy no. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | |||
| Accountant or tax preparer | |||
| Financial advisor | |||
| Insurance agent | |||
| Banker or branch | |||
| Mortgage servicer |
At work
| Who | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Employer or HR | ||
| Union or benefits office | ||
| Pension administrator |
Family and close friends
| Name | Relationship | Phone | Tell them first? |
|---|---|---|---|
| [ ] | |||
| [ ] | |||
| [ ] | |||
| [ ] | |||
| [ ] | |||
| [ ] |
Community and regular commitments
| Who | Contact | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Faith community | ||
| Clubs or societies | ||
| Volunteer work | ||
| Regular appointments (doctor, salon, etc.) | ||
| Newspaper or delivery services |
Do not forget
- Social Security Administration
- Medicare or health insurer
- Pension and any former employers
- Veterans Affairs (if applicable)
- Credit card companies
- Utilities and phone
- Landlord or property manager, if you rent
How to use it
- Fill in the professionals first. Their details are the hardest for your family to reconstruct.
- Put phone numbers, not just names. A name without a number sends someone searching.
- Mark two people as “tell them first.” Those are the ones who will make the other calls.
- Keep a copy with your trusted contact. A list that only exists in the binder is a list nobody has read.
Frequently asked
Is it safe to write account numbers on this sheet?
Write the last four digits and the institution name, not the full account number. Anything more belongs in your password manager or with your attorney.
Who should I put down as “tell them first”?
Usually one family member and one person who is good in a crisis. They do not have to be the same person, and neither has to be a relative.
Should I include people I have fallen out with?
Yes, if they would need to know. Leaving someone off the list does not prevent them finding out — it just means they hear it badly.
Next step
Print the Master Checklist and the Document Inventory to go alongside this sheet. Then record where all three are kept, using the free Checklist Builder, so your trusted contact can find them without searching the house.
This is general information, not legal or medical advice. Rules and procedures vary by state and change over time — please confirm details with the official sources we link and talk with a licensed professional about your situation.