All practical guides · By Ellis Family Guides · Reviewed October 4, 2026
Read the guide below or print the worksheet. No email address, account or book purchase required.
Download the free organizer worksheetsAsk what would be helpful
A stack of papers can feel like a practical problem to you and a loss of privacy to your parent. Start with a specific offer: “Would it help if we wrote down where the important papers are kept?” Let your parent choose what to share and when to stop.
Do not begin by taking control of accounts or changing arrangements. Organizing information is a separate task from being authorized to act for someone else.
Choose a small first session
Set aside a short period and choose one category, such as key contacts or document locations. Use only the organizer pages that fit that task. You do not have to complete the whole pack.
A useful first result might be the name of the attorney, the location of an insurance policy and one question to ask next. That is progress even if some boxes remain empty.
Record where things are, rather than gathering every original
- Write down where the will, powers of attorney and health-care documents are stored, if they exist.
- List the people or organizations to contact about accounts, insurance and benefits.
- Note which documents are missing or need to be reviewed with the appropriate professional.
Keep originals in an appropriate secure location. A location list can reduce searching without moving every document into a new folder.
Keep access and authority separate
Knowing where a document is kept does not establish authority to manage money or make decisions. If your parent needs that kind of help, discuss the necessary arrangements with the relevant institution or professional. The CFPB offers separate guides for people acting in different legally appointed roles.
Do not record passwords or full account credentials on a worksheet intended to be shared. Ask your parent who should know where the completed organizer is kept.
Leave a simple handover note
At the end, write three lines: what you completed, what remains open and who will take the next step. Agree on another short session only if it would help.
The organizer belongs to the person whose information it contains. Store it privately, and share it according to their wishes and applicable arrangements.
Your printable starting point
Download the free organizer worksheets (PDF)
Choose only the parts that help today. Keep completed pages in your own secure records.
If you would like a longer guide
Get Your Affairs in Order by Margaret K. Ellis explains the wider planning process and includes a fill-in organizer. These printable companion pages can also be used without buying the book.
Explore Get Your Affairs in Order →Sources and further help
Published by Ellis Family Guides, the independent publishing brand for books by Margaret K. Ellis. Official resources are linked for further reading; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Educational information and organizing suggestions, not legal, financial, tax or medical advice. Confirm decisions with the appropriate professional or agency.