My name
Also known as
Date of birth
Address
Where I was born
My parents
Schools I attended
Spouse/partner
My friends, family & important people in my life
My work
My pet/s
My faith/religion
My parish/meeting location
Groups & clubs I belong to
Favourite songs & poems
Favourite sporting teams
Favourite pastimes
My general practitioner
My specialist/s
Medicare number
My private health cover provider/member number
My dentist
My bank
I’m an organ donor Yes No
Emergency contact people (name and number)
I’ve already made a Will on this date / /
My solicitors
My executor/s
My Power of Attorney/s
Location of important documents
See the Helpful Information section on page 20 for practical tips on getting your affairs in order.
Thinking about the years ahead, outline your preferences and choices. You may like to use this as a conversation-starter to discuss your decisions with loved ones.
My thoughts about staying at home
I would like help at home with
I would prefer to do the following things myself
My preferences for aged care
The right time to enter aged care would be
My preferred aged care residence is
My second preference
My reasons are
My preference for end-of-life care
A message for my Power of Attorney
As you look ahead, it’s essential to make choices about your preferences and share those details with those closest to you. This is a place to outline those preferences and details of your wishes and any arrangements that you’ve made.
My funeral / memorial service is already planned
Documents filed at:
I am happy to leave that to my loved ones
I prefer not to have one
I wish to be buried cremated
Preferred Funeral Director/Cemetery/Location
Celebrant
Songs/hymns
Reading/poems
Dress me in
Photos are kept
My preferred flowers are
Special requests
Special people to invite to my funeral
Please notify the following clubs or associations of my passing
My preference for a memorial (plaque, headstone)
Here you have space to express your values, give an insight into your life, your loves, your faith and how you’d like to be remembered by those whose lives you’ve touched.
Things that are closest to my heart
My faith
My fondest memories
My proudest achievements
Causes I support
Something you may not know
While your Will is where your final instructions are documented, this is an opportunity to share your memories about the things you’re leaving behind, and your vision for the future of those you love.
Things that have been dear to me during my life
What I’d like you to know about some of the items I’m passing on
Special instructions
Gifts to charitable organisations
Notes to my executors
Respecting the wishes set out in my Will
My hopes for the future of others...
...and other thoughts
The importance of making a Will
It’s not easy to think about the end of your life, but it’s important. One of the greatest gifts you can give to your family and friends is clear guidance on how you’d like your assets and personal belongings to be distributed after your passing.
Making a Will that clearly states your wishes relieves your loved ones of the burden of guessing your intentions, and avoids any possible disputes or litigation.
As life unfolds, at some stage you may be unable to make decisions on your own behalf. This might be because of an accident or illness that causes you to lose the legal capacity to make decisions, or you may be travelling overseas and need someone to make decisions for you while you’re away.
A power of attorney gives you choice and control over who makes decisions for you when you are no longer able to do so.
There are several forms of power of attorney and you need to seek legal advice on which one/s are best suited to your current and future needs.
A book like this serves to keep all your important information in one handy place.
This not only helps direct your loved ones to all your important documents, it informs them of your wishes as you age and beyond. The personal information you write here also helps them know what you truly want, even if you may not have expressed it to them in-person.
Don’t forget to tell the people in your life about this important book and where you plan to keep it. If you are using the Keepsake Envelope provided, don’t forget to tell them where this is located too.
If it works for you, you may also want to use this book as a conversation-starter to help you open up discussions about your wishes, your values and your cherished memories.
Kind people who have supported charitable organisations during their lifetime might choose to leave a gift in their Will to one or more charities.
While including a gift in your Will is easy to do, there are several things you need to consider. For instance, you may decide to leave a percentage of your estate, a specific amount of cash or a particular asset (like real estate) to the charity.
Whatever the size or type of gift you choose to leave, your legacy will have a meaningful and positive impact for people in need.
Carefully consider what’s best for your situation and your loved ones. To avoid any future surprises it’s recommended that you discuss your decision with family and loved ones so they understand why the gift is important to you.
Once you feel comfortable to proceed, you can ask your solicitor to include the details of your gift in a new Will or instruct them to insert a codicil (amendment) into your existing Will.
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