If you have ever had to sort out someone's affairs after they died, you already know the quiet, exhausting truth of it: the hardest part is rarely the grief paperwork. It's the hunting. Which bank? Was there a pension? Where on earth is the will? What's the login for the energy account that keeps emailing?
A death folder is the answer to all of that, gathered calmly before anyone needs it.
What is a death folder?
A death folder is a single, organised place, on paper or digital, that holds everything the people you love would need to find if you died or could no longer manage your affairs. That means where your will is kept, your accounts and pensions, your property and insurance, where your passwords live, and your final wishes.
It is not a legal document, and it doesn't replace a will. Think of it as a map. It doesn't decide who inherits what. It just makes sure the people sorting things out can actually find everything.
You'll also see it called an "in case of death folder", an "if I die folder", a "when I die binder", or simply an estate organiser. Same idea, different name.
Why it's one of the kindest things you can do
When someone dies, their executor has to piece together a whole financial life from scratch, often while grieving. The average UK adult has somewhere around 70–80 online accounts. A typical estate touches several banks, a pension or two (including old workplace pots people half-forget), insurance, utilities and subscriptions. None of it comes with an index.
That's why families so often describe the weeks after a death as "detective work". A death folder turns that month of hunting into an afternoon of phone calls, because everything points to where it is.
It isn't morbid. It's practical, and it's a genuine act of love. You're sparing the people you care about the worst of the admin at the worst possible time.
What goes in a death folder: the 6 sections
You don't need to gather documents or copy anything sensitive. For most things, you're just recording where it lives, not the thing itself.
What goes in a death folder
Six simple sections — for most, you're just recording where things live
Will & legal papers
Your will and where the signed original is kept, plus any Lasting Powers of Attorney and key certificates.
Money & pensions
Bank and savings accounts, and pensions — including old workplace pots. List the provider, not the balance. Forgotten pensions are what families most often miss.
Property & belongings
Your home and any other property, the mortgage provider, insurance, and where the deeds are kept.
Digital accounts
The accounts that matter — and where the passwords live (a password manager or vault), never the passwords themselves.
Subscriptions & bills
The direct debits that quietly keep charging, so your family can stop the meter quickly.
Wishes & final messages
Funeral preferences, organ-donation wishes, and any notes for the people who matter.
You don't need to copy anything sensitive — just record where each thing lives.
If you'd like a ready-made version of these six sections, our free death-folder checklist walks you through each one.
Death folder vs a will: what's the difference?
This trips a lot of people up, so let's be clear.
A will is a legal document that says who gets what. A death folder rarely says where anything is. The will is the instructions; the folder is the map. Most families need both.
One thing matters a lot here. A will becomes a public document once probate is granted, which means anyone can order a copy. So a will is exactly the wrong place to record passwords, account numbers or sensitive personal messages. Those belong in your death folder instead, kept private and only shared with the people you choose.
(This is general information about getting organised, not legal advice. For writing or changing a will, speak to a regulated solicitor or will-writer. You can also read our plain-English guide to writing a will in the UK. The government's official overview of what to do after someone dies is a good place to start, too.)
Where should you keep it?
Somewhere secure that the right person can actually find.
- Paper folder: a locked drawer or a fire-safe box is fine. The single most important step is to tell your executor it exists and where it is. A perfect folder nobody can find helps no one.
- Digital version: use a secure, encrypted place, not a loose document on your desktop or a note in your phone. Make sure one trusted person knows how to reach it when the time comes.
There are really only two ways to get this wrong: hide it so well nobody finds it, or leave it so open it becomes a security risk. You want it private, but findable.
How to start one this week
The biggest barrier isn't that it's hard. It's that it never quite reaches the top of the list. So make it small.
- Write down where your will is kept.
- List your main bank and pension providers (just the names).
- Note where your passwords live: your password manager, and where the master key is.
- Tell your executor the folder exists.
That's the essentials, and it genuinely takes an afternoon. You can add the rest over time. The list in your head helps nobody. Even a rough one, written down somewhere your family can reach, changes everything. Done matters more than perfect.
How Beqst builds your death folder
Beqst is a calm, secure place to build exactly this, and to keep it current as life changes. You start with the free checklist. From there, Beqst helps you spot what's still missing and keep everything in one place. You decide exactly what your executor sees, and when. You stay in control of all of it.
Beqst helps you get organised. It isn't a legal or financial adviser, and for any decision about your will, tax or estate, you should speak to a regulated professional.
Related reading: What to Do When Someone Dies in the UK · The UK Estate Planning Checklist · What Does an Executor Do?