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Losing a loved one is challenging enough without added complications. One way you can take some of the pain out of administering your estate is by preparing an End of Life Planning Kit. Sometimes referred to as a death box, death binder, next-of-kin box, or legacy folder, it serves as a centralized place to organize important information and documents in a productive, practical way, ensuring that all necessary paperwork is kept in a single location and that those who need it know where to find it.

After a loved one passes away, their money and property that go through probate must be distributed to those legally entitled to them, either according to a last will and testament (also called a will) or the state’s default distribution scheme (found in its intestacy statute). While most people want the settlement process completed as soon as possible, probate can take up to 12 months in some states. The delays create unnecessary stress, especially for families who need access to those accounts or properties to pay their deceased loved one’s taxes, expenses, or legally valid debts.