Completing your will is a milestone, but it’s not the whole story. Legal documents determine what happens to your estate — they don’t explain how to carry it out or why your choices matter. That’s where a letter of instruction comes in.
This informal document acts as a guidebook for your loved ones, ensuring they can navigate practical details and emotional moments with clarity. With secure storage options like the Evaheld Legacy Vault, your letter can live alongside your will, directives, and legacy messages — ready when it’s needed most.
What exactly is a letter of instruction?
A letter of instruction is a personal, non-legal document that complements your will. It provides details about your finances, digital accounts, family preferences, and personal reflections that don’t belong in formal legal paperwork.
According to Investopedia’s guide to letters of instruction, this document acts as a “cheat sheet” for heirs and executors — helping them carry out your wishes efficiently and respectfully.
It sits at the heart of a minimal viable estate plan, filling in the human details that pure legal forms cannot capture.
Why you need one
While wills distribute assets, they rarely explain the reasoning behind them. They also don’t specify the location of passwords, files, or sentimental items. A letter of instruction clarifies those grey areas — preventing confusion and emotional strain.
Estate specialists at Fidelity’s estate planning resource note that the biggest delays in settling estates come not from legal issues, but from missing information.
By writing your own letter and storing it securely in a digital legacy vault, you create a central hub that simplifies the transition for loved ones.
Meet your Legacy Assistant — Charli Evaheld is here to guide you through your free Evaheld Legacy Vault so you can create, share, and preserve everything that matters — from personal stories and care wishes to legal and financial documents — all in one secure place, for life.
What to include — your core sections
Following a reliable letters of instruction template ensures you don’t miss vital information. Here’s how to structure yours.
1. Introduction and purpose
Begin with your name, date, and intent — that this document supplements your will and guides your executor. Experts such as Define Financial’s estate planning team advise including a disclaimer that this letter does not override legal documents but provides context and direction.
2. Location of legal documents
List where your will, trusts, insurance policies, and powers of attorney are held. Include the contact details of your solicitor or estate adviser. This section connects your legal framework with personal navigation.
3. Executor and digital custodian details
Identify who your executor is, and if applicable, your separate digital executor. In your vault, link their contact details and roles. Use this section to define their responsibilities regarding digital assets and beneficiaries, such as photos, domain names, or encrypted accounts.
4. Asset and liability inventory
Provide a clear summary of bank accounts, investment portfolios, real estate, debts, and safe-deposit boxes. Experts at Trust & Will’s estate library recommend keeping approximate values and contact information — but avoiding sensitive data like PINs or full account numbers.
5. Digital access and security
Outline where and how to access your online accounts, password manager, or recovery keys — but never include actual passwords. The National Cyber Security Centre UK advises storing authentication instructions separately under encrypted access, which you can manage easily within your digital legacy vault.
Explain what should happen to social media accounts, cloud files, and subscription services. This is essential when including a digital vault in your will.
6. Funeral and memorial wishes
State your funeral preferences — including location, music, readings, and attire — and whether you’d like an online memorial to be created for friends and family to share tributes. Include contact details for your chosen funeral director if applicable.
7. Personal messages and ethical reflections
Your letter can also serve as an ethical will, recording the values and lessons you wish to pass on. The Family Legacy Series provides practical inspiration for crafting these messages. Attach personal notes or short videos to your vault entries so your heirs receive your voice alongside your words.
8. Guardianship and dependants
Detail arrangements for minor children, ageing relatives, or pets. While your legal will designates official guardians, this section provides guidance on education, lifestyle, and care preferences — humanising your guardianship instructions.
Easily send, request, and share content in your free Evaheld Legacy Vault — collaborate with family, friends and trusted advisers in shared or private spaces and keep everything organised, secure, and accessible anytime.
9. Charitable intentions and philanthropy
Explain the meaning behind donations listed in your will. According to the Charity Commission for England and Wales, donors who record their motivations help prevent misunderstandings later. Pair this section with your broader philanthropy legacy planning reflections stored in your vault.
10. Review and update cycle
Specify when you plan to review and refresh the document — ideally every five years. Use a five-year estate review template and note the date of the last revision. This turns your letter from a one-time note into a living resource.
How to write it effectively
Start small and build. You don’t need to write the entire letter in one sitting. Open your vault, create a folder called Letter of Instruction – Draft, and begin adding short notes under each heading.
To avoid writer’s block:
- Use simple, conversational language.
- Write to your loved ones directly, not to your solicitor.
- Focus on clarity, not emotion — your personal reflections can come later.
- Refer to the Trust & Will online writing guide for structure and tone ideas.
Every entry in Evaheld auto-dates and stores your changes, creating a version history automatically.
Storing and sharing securely
When your letter feels complete:
- Save a signed PDF in your vault and tag it as “Final – Letter of Instruction.”
- Upload relevant videos or photos.
- Print one hard copy to store with your solicitor or executor.
- Notify your executor of the vault’s access procedures.
Digital redundancy ensures nothing is lost. You can also link your vault with a digital will resource for a cohesive estate-planning experience.
Common pitfalls to avoid
Experts at Fidelity’s estate guidance team identify common mistakes to watch for:
- Don’t contradict your legal will.
- Don’t store sensitive information insecurely.
- Don’t neglect digital instructions.
- Don’t leave your executor guessing about access or intent.
Finally, ensure your executor knows how to retrieve your files and understand your vault’s structure.
Making it part of your family’s communication culture
Hold a brief family meeting for estate planning where you explain what the letter contains and how it will help. According to the American Bar Association’s family estate communication guidelines, transparency during life prevents conflict later.
Recording the discussion in your vault as a video or audio note adds accountability and warmth.
A bridge between planning and peace
Your letter of instruction transforms legal formality into compassion in action. It’s where financial, digital, and emotional clarity meet. Together with your memory preservation tools in Evaheld, it forms a legacy system that is practical, enduring, and profoundly human.
Start writing your first draft today — one section, one story, one intention at a time. Your loved ones will thank you for the calm your words bring.
Future-Proof Your Legacy: Stories, Wishes, and Documents in One Secure Vault
Your life is a rich tapestry of stories, relationships, and intentions. The Evaheld Legacy Vault is the dedicated platform to protect it all, giving your family the priceless gift of clarity, connection, and peace of mind for generations to come.
And you're never on your own. Charli, your dedicated AI Legacy Preservation Assistant, is there to guide you. From the moment you start your Vault, Charli provides personalised support—helping you set up your account, inviting family members, sending content requests, and articulating your stories and care wishes with empathy and clarity.
Take control of your legacy today. Your free Evaheld Legacy Vault is the secure home for your most precious assets—ensuring your family memories, advance care plans, and vital documents are organised, safe, and instantly shareable.
Take control of what matters most — set up your free Evaheld Legacy Vault to keep your stories, care wishes, and essential documents safe, organised, and instantly shareable with loved ones and advisers, for life.
1. Preserve Your Family’s Living Story & History
Transform your memories into a timeless family archive that future generations can truly experience. Within the Evaheld Legacy Vault, you can record videos, capture photos, write reflections, and create Legacy Letters — weaving together the laughter, lessons, and love that define your family’s identity.
Preserve more than moments: build a living digital time capsule where your heritage, traditions, and wisdom are safe, searchable, and shareable. From everyday memories to milestone events, your family’s story will remain a permanent bridge between generations — a place your loved ones can return to whenever they need comfort, connection, or inspiration.
2. Secure Your Care & Health Wishes
Ensure your voice is heard when it matters most. With the Evaheld Legacy Vault, you can create and store a digital Advance Care Directive, record your healthcare preferences, and legally appoint your Medical Decision Maker. Grant secure, instant access to family and clinicians, and link it all to your Emergency QR Access Card for first responders—ensuring your wishes are always honored.
Watch our Founder's Story to learn why we’re so passionate about Legacy Preservation and Advance Care Planning
3. Protect Your Essential Documents with Bank-Grade Security
Consolidate your critical records in one bank-grade encrypted vault. Safely store your will, power of attorney, insurance policies, and financial documents with precise permission controls. Never worry about lost, damaged, or inaccessible paperwork again. Your documents are organised and available only to those you explicitly trust.
4. Strengthen Family Bonds with Your Living, Collaborative Legacy
Transform your Legacy Vault from a static archive into a living, breathing family hub that actively deepens connections across generations and distances. This is where your legacy is built together, in real-time.
Let Charli, Your AI Legacy Preservation Assistant, Be Your Collaboration Catalyst. Charli proactively helps your family connect and create. She can suggest content requests, prompt family members to share specific memories, and help organise contributions—making it effortless for everyone to participate in building your shared story.
Create private or shared Family Rooms to connect with loved ones, carers, and trusted advisors. Within these Rooms, you can:
- Share precious memories as they happen, making your Vault a dynamic, growing timeline of your family's life.
- Send and fulfill collaborative content requests, ensuring you preserve exactly what your family cherishes most—from that funny holiday story to cherished family recipes.
- Schedule future-dated messages for birthdays, anniversaries, and milestones, allowing you to offer wisdom, love, and connection for years to come.
Evaheld is more than a digital vault; it's your family's private collaboration platform for intergenerational storytelling. It’s the simplest way to ensure every voice is heard, every memory is captured, and every bond is strengthened—today and for the future.
Start Your Free Evaheld Legacy Vault in Minutes
Join thousands of families who have found peace of mind. Setting up your free, permanent Vault is quick and simple.
- Safeguard your story for future generations.
- Ensure your care wishes are respected.
- Shield essential documents from loss and ensure instant, secure access.
The Best 3 Resources to Get Started
- Create Your Legacy Statement in 10 Minutes Flat
- Prevent Family Conflict with Our Legacy Kit
- Get Inspired: See Powerful Ethical Will Examples
Our Commitment: No One Left Behind
Evaheld believes that every story deserves to be protected, without exception. Our "Connection is All We Have" Hardship Program ensures that financial circumstances are never a barrier to legacy preservation and advance care planning.
If you are facing financial hardship, contact our team to learn how we can provide a free Vault. We are here to help you secure what matters most.
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