Author name: Lifebook Admin

How to Write Your Life Story: A Step-by-Step Guide Every family has stories that disappear when the people who hold them are gone. A grandfather’s first job, the ship a grandmother arrived on, the summer that changed everything. Writing your life story keeps those moments alive for the people who come after you. You don’t need to be a writer. You need a plan, a little time each week, and a clear idea of who you’re writing for. 1. Decide who you’re writing for A story written for your grandchildren sounds different from one written for yourself. Pick one reader. Write as if you’re talking to them over a cup of tea. 2. Choose a simple structure Most people choose one of three approaches: Chronological: birth to the present. Easiest to follow. Themed chapters: work, family, home, travel, friendship. Letters or short stories: 500-word pieces you can write one at a time. If you’re unsure, start with themes. They’re less intimidating than “Chapter One: I was born.” 3. Build a timeline first List the 20 to 30 events that shaped you: schools, moves, jobs, relationships, losses, wins. Add the year beside each. This timeline becomes your table of contents. 4. Use prompts to unlock memories Stuck? Try these: What did your childhood home smell like? Who taught you something you still use today? What was your first pay packet, and what did you spend it on? What would you tell your 20-year-old self? 5. Write messy, then edit Set a timer for 20 minutes. Write without stopping to fix anything. Come back later to tidy. Many people find speaking into a phone and transcribing the recording easier than typing. 6. Add photos, documents and objects A single photo with a caption often tells more than a page of text. Scan old photos, letters, tickets and certificates. Note names, places and dates on the back before they’re forgotten. 7. Turn it into a book Printing your story as a hardcover or softcover book makes it something the family can hold, share and pass down. A professionally designed book layout, proper photo reproduction and quality binding make the difference between a document in a drawer and a keepsake. If you’d rather not do it alone, a guided service can interview you, shape the chapters and handle design and printing, so you focus on remembering and not on formatting. How long does it take? Plan on 3 to 6 months of writing a few hours a week for a full book. A shorter 20 to 30 page legacy booklet can be done in a few weeks. Start today Write down five memories before bed tonight. That’s your first chapter. Call to action: Ready to turn your memories into a finished book? [Contact Life Book Memories] to start your story. Contact us: support@lifebookmemories.com

50 Questions to Ask Your Parents About Their Life Most of us know our parents as parents. Far fewer of us know them as the teenager who snuck out to a dance, the young worker on a first pay packet, or the newcomer who stepped off a ship into a country they’d never seen. Those stories don’t last forever. The best time to ask is now. Below are 50 questions grouped by life stage. You don’t need to ask all of them. Pick five, put the kettle on, and start. Before you start: three tips Record it. Use your phone’s voice memo. Ask permission first, and keep it running. Ask one question at a time. Then wait. Silence often leads to the best answer. Follow the story. If they mention a name, a place or a smell, ask “Tell me more about that.” Childhood and growing up Where were you born, and what do you know about the day you arrived? What is your earliest memory? What was the house you grew up in like? What did it smell like? What did your parents do for work? Who was in your family, and who were you closest to? What did you do for fun when you were a kid? What foods did you eat at home? Is there a dish you still dream about? Were you well behaved? What’s the naughtiest thing you did? What chores did you have? Who was your hero when you were young? School and teenage years What was school like? Which teacher do you remember most? What were you good at? What did you hate? What music did you listen to as a teenager? What did you wear? Was there a fashion you’d rather forget? Who was your first crush? What did you dream of becoming? What was the biggest challenge of your teenage years? Work and money What was your first job, and how much did you earn? What was your proudest day at work? What was the hardest job you ever did? Did you ever take a big risk with your career? Who was the best boss or mentor you had? What did you spend your first pay packet on? What would you do differently about money if you could start again? Love, family and friendship How did you meet your partner? What made you fall in love? What was your wedding day like? What did you feel the day I (or my brother or sister) was born? What is the hardest part of raising children? What lessons did you learn from your own parents? Who are the friends who shaped your life? What does a good marriage look like to you? Big moments and hard times What events in history do you remember most clearly? Where were you when something world-changing happened? Have you ever moved to a new town or country? What was it like to start over? What was the hardest year of your life, and how did you get through it? Is there something you’ve never told anyone? What’s something you’re still proud of? What’s one thing you regret, and what did it teach you? Wisdom and what matters What do you know now that you wish you’d known at 20? What has made you happiest in life? What are you most grateful for? How do you want to be remembered? What advice would you give your grandchildren? What family traditions do you hope we keep? What would you like to see us do more of? Looking back, looking ahead If you could relive one day, which would it be? What has surprised you most about getting older? What’s still on your bucket list? Is there a story you’d like written down so it’s never forgotten? What to do with the answers Recordings get lost, phones break and notes end up in drawers. The most lasting way to keep these stories is to turn them into a printed book: transcribed, edited, illustrated with old photographs and bound so the whole family can hold it. If you’d rather not do it alone, a guided service can interview your parent, shape the chapters and look after design and printing. FAQs What if my parent doesn’t like talking about the past? Start with light topics like food, music and school. Hard topics can wait, or be skipped. Can I ask these questions by phone or video? Yes. Record the call (with permission). Distance is no barrier. How long should an interview last? 30 to 45 minutes is plenty. Several short sessions beat one long one. Call to action: Want these stories kept for good? [Talk to Life Book Memories] about turning your parents’ answers into a finished family book.

A Life Story Book: The Gift Grandparents Never Expect Grandparents often say they don’t want anything. They have the slippers, the tea towels and the third photo frame. What they rarely have is someone who sits down, listens, and writes their story into a book. A life story book is a gift made from their own memories: childhood, work, love, migration, the farm, the street they grew up on. It is personal in a way nothing from a shop can be. Why it works as a gift It is one of a kind. No one else on earth owns this book. It honours them. Being asked about your life says “you matter”. It lasts. Printed and bound, it outlives any gadget and passes to the next generation. The whole family can chip in. Siblings and cousins can share the cost, add photos and write a message. Journal or finished book? Many gift-style guided journals ask grandparents to fill in the blanks themselves. They are affordable, but many stay half-empty, because writing is hard work. A finished book is different: someone else does the interviewing, writing and layout. Guided journal Finished life story book Who writes Your grandparent Interviewer and writer Effort for them High Low: they just talk Photos Stuck in by hand Restored and laid out Result Handwritten keepsake Professionally printed book Best for Keen writers Everyone else How a life story book comes together Chat. A relaxed interview, in person or over the phone, recorded with permission. Write. The conversation becomes chapters in their own voice. Photos. Old prints are scanned, restored and placed in the story. Review. Your grandparent and family check the draft and fix names, dates and details. Print. The book is designed and bound, ready to give. Ideas to make the gift even better Add a chapter of recipes the family still cooks. Include handwritten letters or a favourite poem. Ask each grandchild to write a short note for the final page. Present it on a birthday, at Christmas or at a family reunion, with everyone in the room. Timing tip Allow several weeks from first interview to printed book. If you want it ready for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or an 80th or 90th birthday, start early. FAQs Do my grandparents need to be good storytellers? No. A good interviewer draws the story out. Short, simple answers become warm chapters. What if they have memory problems? Photos, music and familiar objects help. Shorter, more frequent sessions work best, and family members can add details. Can we give it as a family? Yes. Many families share the cost and contribute photos and messages. Call to action: Thinking of giving your grandparents a book of their own life? [Talk to Life Book Memories] about a gift they will treasure.

How Much Does a Memoir Cost in Australia? A Plain-English Guide The honest answer: it depends on length, how much writing and design is done for you, and how many printed copies you want. A short family keepsake and a 60,000-word professionally written memoir are different products with very different prices. This guide explains what you are paying for so you can compare quotes fairly. What drives the price Length. More pages mean more interviews, writing and editing. Who does the writing. Writing it yourself with an editor costs less than a writer interviewing you and drafting every chapter. Photos. Scanning, restoring and laying out old photographs takes time. Design. A template layout costs less than custom design. Printing. Hardcover, colour pages and number of copies all change the total. Ordering extra copies at the same time is usually cheaper per book. Timeline. Rushed projects cost more. Three typical levels (fill in your own prices) Level What you get Best for Price from Keepsake Short book, guided interview, template design Birthdays and gifts [YOUR PRICE] Standard Full interview series, written chapters, photos, printed hardcover Most families [YOUR PRICE] Premium Longer book, custom design, extra copies, family review rounds Legacy projects [YOUR PRICE] Questions to ask before you sign Is the price fixed or per hour? How many interview hours are included? How many rounds of changes can we make? Are photo restoration and printing included? Who owns the story and the files afterwards? How many weeks from first chat to printed book? Ways to keep costs sensible Gather photos and documents before the first interview. Choose one family contact to collect feedback, so changes arrive together. Decide copy numbers early. Start earlier than you think; rush fees add up. Is it worth it? A printed life story is one of the few things that cannot be recreated later. Voices, names and details fade. Many families say the cost felt small compared with what the book means to them. FAQs How long does it take? Allow several weeks to a few months, depending on length and how quickly the family reviews drafts. Can the family share the cost? Yes. Many siblings split it and each contribute photos and a message. Do I need to be a good storyteller? No. A skilled interviewer draws the story out. Call to action: Want a clear quote for your life story book? [Request a free quote from Life Book Memories]. Internal links: /blog/life-story-book-gift-for-grandparents, /blog/how-to-write-your-life-story, /blog/memoir-vs-autobiography, /blog/questions-to-ask-your-parents, packages page. Schema: Article + FAQPage.

Organising Your Digital Legacy: A Guide for Sydney Families A practical guide to organising digital accounts, photos, and passwords so your family isn’t locked out when it matters most. Most estate planning conversations focus on physical assets and legal documents — but a growing share of what we leave behind is digital, and it’s often the hardest for families to access. Photos locked in a phone, email accounts with no known password, subscriptions still being billed months later. This guide covers the practical side of organising your digital life so your family isn’t left guessing. Why this matters more than people expect When someone dies or becomes unable to manage their own affairs, families are often surprised by how much is tied up in digital accounts they can’t access — banking apps, email (which is often the key to resetting everything else), cloud photo storage, social media, and subscription services. Without a password or access plan, some of this can be recovered through formal processes with the provider, but it’s often slow, and some content (photos not backed up anywhere else, for instance) can be lost entirely. Start with an inventory, not a password list Rather than trying to write down every password (which quickly goes out of date), start with a simple inventory: what accounts exist, roughly what’s in them, and which ones matter most if something happened to you. Email, banking, superannuation, photo storage, and any account with financial value or sentimental content (photos, videos, personal writing) are usually the priority. A password manager, if you use one, solves a lot of this — your family only needs access to the one master account rather than dozens of individual logins. Decide what you actually want to happen Beyond access, it’s worth thinking through what you want to happen to specific accounts — do you want social media profiles memorialised, deleted, or left as-is? Should photos be downloaded and shared with family, or kept in the cloud account indefinitely? Most major platforms (Google, Apple, Facebook/Meta) have some form of legacy or memorialisation setting that lets you nominate a contact or set instructions in advance — these are worth setting up directly in each platform rather than relying on family to work it out afterward. Photos and memories deserve their own plan Photos and personal memories often carry more emotional weight than any other digital asset, and they’re also the easiest to lose — a phone that’s wiped, a cloud account nobody can access, a social media platform that eventually shuts down. Keeping a backup of meaningful photos somewhere family can access directly (rather than only inside an account that requires a login they don’t have) is one of the simplest things you can do to protect this. Where this fits with your broader estate planning Digital asset planning works best alongside — not instead of — your formal will and estate planning. A will deals with legal ownership of assets; a digital legacy plan deals with practical access. Some people include a general reference to digital assets in their will or an accompanying letter of wishes, without listing actual passwords in a legal document (since wills can become part of the public probate record). A separate, securely stored note or password manager entry is usually the safer place for the detail. A simple way to start You don’t need to solve this all at once. Start with the accounts that matter most — email and your primary photo storage — make sure someone you trust knows how to access them if needed, and build out from there. Revisiting this list every year or two, as accounts change, keeps it useful rather than outdated. This article is general guidance to help with planning and isn’t legal advice — for how digital assets should be referenced in your will or estate plan, it’s worth speaking with a solicitor about what’s appropriate for your specific situation. Best platform to use would be www.Lifebookmemories.com.

How Much Does a Funeral Cost in Sydney? A Realistic Guide for Families A realistic look at what funerals cost in Sydney, what drives the price up or down, and how to plan without overspending in the moment. Funeral costs are one of those things almost nobody researches until they urgently need to — and that timing makes it easy to overspend, because decisions are often made quickly, under pressure, and without much comparison. This guide breaks down what actually drives the cost of a funeral in Sydney, so you can make more informed decisions, whether you’re planning ahead or dealing with this right now. Why funerals cost what they do A funeral cost isn’t one number — it’s a combination of separate components: the funeral director’s professional fees, disbursements (third-party costs like the crematorium or cemetery, death certificate, newspaper notices), and optional extras (catering, flowers, memorial products, a more elaborate casket or coffin). Two families can have very different total costs for what looks like a similar service, depending on which of these elements they choose. Burial vs cremation Cremation is generally the lower-cost option in Sydney compared to burial, largely because burial involves ongoing costs like a cemetery plot, which can vary significantly depending on the cemetery and whether it’s a new plot or an existing family plot. Cremation avoids plot costs entirely, though many families still choose a service beforehand, which carries its own costs regardless of what happens afterward. What the national data shows Industry and media coverage on the “cost of dying” in Australia has pointed to average funeral costs in the vicinity of $14,000 nationally in recent reporting, with real variation by city, provider, and the choices a family makes. Sydney, as a higher cost-of-living city, tends to sit at or above the national average for comparable services. These figures are useful as a general reference point, but they’re exactly that — general. The only way to know what your situation will actually cost is to get an itemised quote from the specific provider you’re considering. Where costs can be reduced without cutting corners on what matters Families looking to manage costs often find the biggest savings in a few specific areas: choosing a simpler casket or coffin, opting for cremation over burial where that fits the family’s wishes, holding a memorial gathering separately (often at a lower-cost venue) rather than everything through the funeral home, and being selective about optional extras like elaborate floral arrangements or printed memorial products. None of these mean a less meaningful service — the parts of a funeral people remember are rarely the ones that cost the most. Getting a fair quote It’s reasonable, and increasingly common, to get quotes from more than one funeral provider before committing, the same way you would for most other significant expenses. A reputable provider should be willing to give you an itemised breakdown rather than a single bundled number, so you can see exactly what you’re paying for and where there’s room to adjust. Pre-planning and pre-paying Some families choose to plan or even pre-pay for a funeral in advance, which can reduce stress and decision-making pressure later, and in some cases lock in pricing. This is a significant financial decision with its own considerations (including how pre-paid funeral funds are protected if the provider changes ownership or closes), so it’s worth researching the specific provider’s terms carefully, or speaking with a financial adviser, before committing. A practical starting point If you’re planning ahead rather than dealing with an immediate loss, the most useful first step is simply having the conversation with family about preferences — burial or cremation, religious or secular, simple or elaborate — since that shapes cost far more than any single line-item choice. Recording those preferences somewhere family can find them later removes a lot of guesswork and financial pressure at an already difficult time. This article is general information to help with planning and isn’t financial or legal advice — for anything specific to your situation, speak directly with funeral providers for quotes, and a solicitor or financial adviser for estate and pre-payment questions. Best platform to use would be www.Lifebookmemories.com.

Understanding Probate in NSW: A Plain-English Guide for Sydney Families A plain-English overview of how probate works in NSW, for Sydney families navigating a loved one’s estate for the first time. If you’ve been named executor of a will, or you’re trying to work out what happens to a loved one’s estate, the word “probate” comes up almost immediately — and it’s rarely explained in plain language. This is a general overview of how the process works in NSW. It isn’t legal advice, and estates vary enormously in complexity, so treat this as a starting point for understanding the process, not a substitute for advice from a solicitor. What probate actually is Probate is a grant from the Supreme Court of NSW that formally confirms a will is valid and authorises the executor named in it to deal with the deceased person’s estate — collecting assets, paying debts, and distributing what’s left according to the will. Without probate, banks, share registries, and other institutions generally won’t release a deceased person’s assets to the executor, because they have no formal confirmation that the executor is who the will says they are. When probate is needed Probate usually isn’t needed for every estate — if the deceased had very few assets, or everything was jointly owned and passes automatically to a surviving owner (a jointly owned home or bank account, for example), a grant of probate may not be necessary. It tends to become necessary when there are assets held solely in the deceased’s name — real estate, shares, or significant bank balances — that an institution won’t release without formal legal authority. What happens if there’s no will If someone dies without a valid will, the estate is distributed according to a legal formula set out in NSW succession law, rather than according to what the deceased might have wanted informally. In this situation, the court process is called a grant of “letters of administration” rather than probate, and it’s handled by a different family member or next of kin rather than a named executor. This is one of the clearest practical reasons people cite for having an up-to-date will — it removes ambiguity about who’s responsible and how assets are distributed. The general steps involved While every estate is different, the broad process for obtaining probate in NSW typically involves locating the original will, notifying the Supreme Court of an intention to apply for probate, preparing the required court documents, and — once the grant is issued — using it to formally access and distribute the estate’s assets. The Supreme Court of NSW publishes its own guidance on the application process, which is a useful starting reference if you’re acting as executor yourself. How long it tends to take Timeframes vary significantly depending on how complex the estate is, whether all the required documents are readily available, and whether anyone contests the will. Some straightforward estates move through the process in a matter of weeks; more complex ones, or ones where a dispute arises, can take considerably longer. It’s worth setting expectations with other family members early that this is rarely a fast process, even when everyone is cooperating. Executor responsibilities Being an executor carries real legal responsibility — you’re accountable for managing the estate properly, which includes identifying and valuing assets, paying any outstanding debts and taxes, and distributing the remainder according to the will. If the estate is anything beyond simple, many executors choose to engage a solicitor to help manage this process correctly, both for their own protection and to make sure nothing is missed. Why this matters for planning ahead For anyone thinking about their own estate planning, understanding probate highlights why a clear, up-to-date, and properly executed will matters — it’s the document that makes this whole process faster and less ambiguous for the people left to manage it. Keeping a record of your assets, key documents, and wishes somewhere your family can find them is one of the most practical things you can do now to make this easier for them later. If you’re currently navigating probate for a loved one’s estate, or want to understand your own situation better, start with the Supreme Court of NSW’s own published guidance, and speak with a solicitor for anything specific to your circumstances — this article is general information only. Best platform to use would be www.Lifebookmemories.com.

Planning a Memorial Service in Sydney: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide Planning a memorial service in Sydney? A practical, step-by-step guide to the decisions, options, and timing involved. Organising a memorial service is rarely something people have done before, and it usually has to happen while you’re also dealing with grief, family logistics, and a dozen other practical matters. This guide walks through the main decisions involved in planning a memorial service in Sydney, in the order they typically come up, so you have a starting point rather than a blank page. Memorial service vs funeral service: what’s the difference A funeral service generally takes place with the body (or ashes) present, often before burial or cremation. A memorial service is usually held separately — sometimes weeks or months later — without the body present, which gives families more flexibility on timing, venue, and format. Some families choose one or the other; some hold both. There’s no single “correct” approach — it depends on what feels right for your family and the person being remembered. Choosing a venue Sydney has a wide range of options beyond a traditional chapel: function centres, community halls, parks and gardens, a family home, or a place that was meaningful to the person who died — a favourite beach, club, or local park. Practical questions worth asking early: how many people are you expecting, does the venue allow outside catering or must you use theirs, is there parking or public transport access for older guests, and is the booking flexible if the date needs to shift. Deciding on format and tone Memorial services can be as formal or informal as the family wants — a structured order of service with readings and music, or a more open gathering where people share memories as they feel moved to. It’s worth having one person (a celebrant, family member, or close friend) coordinate the running order so the day doesn’t feel disorganised, even if the content itself is loose and personal. Celebrants and officiants Many Sydney families use an independent civil celebrant rather than a religious official, particularly for a memorial service separate from a religious funeral rite. A good celebrant will usually meet with the family beforehand to understand the person’s life and help shape a service that reflects them, rather than reading a generic script. If your family has a specific faith tradition, your place of worship can usually guide you on how a memorial service fits alongside any religious requirements. Catering and gathering afterwards Most memorial services are followed by some kind of gathering — tea and refreshments, a shared meal, or a more casual get-together. Decide early whether this happens at the same venue or somewhere else, since it affects your venue choice and timing. If you’re expecting family travelling from interstate or overseas, building in a bit of flexibility around dates can make a real difference to how many people can attend. Personal touches that matter to families Many of the details that matter most aren’t the formal parts of the service — they’re the personal touches: photo displays, a favourite song, a memory book guests can write in, or a specific item that represented the person. These don’t need to be elaborate to be meaningful, and they’re often what people remember most afterwards. Keeping a record of the day A lot of families find it valuable to keep a record of who attended, what was shared, and the materials used (the order of service, photos, tributes) — both for their own memory and to share with family who couldn’t be there. This is also something worth preserving for future generations, alongside other family memories and history. Where to start If you’re at the early stages of planning a memorial service in Sydney, start with the two biggest decisions first — venue and format — since most other choices flow from those. Everything else can be worked out from there, at whatever pace feels manageable. This guide is general information to help with planning, not professional or legal advice — for anything involving a deceased estate, a will, or a legal requirement around burial or cremation, it’s worth speaking with a solicitor or the relevant funeral provider directly. Best platform to use would be www.Lifebookmemories.com.

How to Write Your Life Story for Your Family (and Choose What Is Shown at Your Memorial) Your life story is one of the most valued things you can leave your family. You do not need to be a writer. A few honest paragraphs, a handful of well-chosen photos and the songs you love will tell your family more about you than any formal summary. Here is how to start, what to include and how to keep it safe. Why your story matters When someone dies, family often realise how much they never asked. They want to know what you were like at their age, what made you laugh and what you were proud of. Writing it down answers those questions and gives the person leading your service real material to work from. Start small Do not try to write a whole autobiography. Aim for one short entry at a time, ten minutes at a sitting. A paragraph about a single day is better than a plan for a book you never finish. Prompts to get you started Where did you grow up, and what do you remember most about home? Who shaped you, and what did they teach you? What was your first job, and what did it teach you? How did you meet the people you love most? What was the hardest time in your life, and what got you through it? What are you proudest of? What made you laugh until you cried? What do you hope your family remembers about you? What advice would you give your grandchildren, or the next generation? Write the way you talk Use your own voice. If you tell stories with humour, write them that way. Short sentences are fine. Your family will hear you in the words, and that is the point. Choose the photos and videos you want remembered Most families have thousands of photos and no idea which ones you loved. Pick a small set that shows different stages of your life, such as childhood, family, friends, work, travel and favourite places. Add a short caption naming the people, the place and the year Include a few photos of you being yourself, not just posed portraits Choose a favourite video clip or voice message if you have one Captions matter more than they seem. In twenty years, nobody may remember who is standing next to you. Choose the music Music is often the part people remember most. Make a short list of songs for different moments, such as music as guests arrive, a song for a tribute or slideshow, and music for the close. If a song has a story, write it down, because your family may want to share it. Write letters for the people you love A short personal note to a partner, child, grandchild or friend can mean more than anything else you leave. You can write one now and update it later. Keep each one specific: a memory, a thank you, and one wish for their future. Keep it safe and share it with the right people Photos on old phones and loose papers in drawers are easily lost. Keep your story, photos and wishes in one place that you can update, and decide who is allowed to see it. Tell at least one trusted person how to find it. Common questions I am not a good writer. Does that matter? No. Your family wants your voice, not perfect grammar. How long should my story be? As long or short as you like. A few entries is a gift. Can I change it later? Yes. Your wishes and memories can change, so review your entries from time to time. Write your story with Lifebook Memories Lifebook Memories offers guided prompts and a secure space for your stories, photos, videos and music, so your family has everything they need to celebrate your life. See how it works at lifebookmemories.com.

End of Life Checklist for Australians: What to Tell Your Family The most helpful thing you can do for your family is make sure they know where everything is and what you want. When someone dies, relatives often spend weeks searching for papers and passwords while they are grieving. A simple checklist, kept up to date, removes most of that stress. Use the list below as a starting point. Rules differ between states and territories, so speak to a solicitor or your state authority about legal documents. 1. Your will and legal documents Where your will is kept, and the name of the solicitor or executor who holds a copy Enduring power of attorney, and who your attorney is Advance care directive or medical treatment wishes, and who has a copy Any guardianship or trust documents Names for these documents vary by state, so use the terms on your own paperwork. 2. Money and property Bank accounts, credit cards, loans and which institutions hold them Superannuation fund details and any nominated beneficiary Life, income protection, home and car insurance, with policy numbers and contacts Investments, shares and business interests Property deeds, rates notices and mortgage details Write down where each item is, not your passwords or PINs. See the digital life section below. 3. Bills and regular payments Utilities, phone, internet and streaming subscriptions Car registration, memberships and recurring donations Anything that renews automatically and may need cancelling 4. Digital life Email, social media and cloud accounts, and what you would like done with them A way for your family to access your device and password manager, such as a trusted person who knows where the recovery details are kept Photos stored on phones, computers and online services 5. People to contact Close family and friends who should be told first Your employer, doctor, accountant and any carers Clubs, faith or community groups you belong to 6. Your funeral and memorial wishes Burial or cremation, and any funeral director or pre-paid plan The tone and place of your service Music, readings, photos and speakers you would like Flowers, donations and any cultural or religious customs 7. Personal wishes Who should care for pets Items you would like particular people to have Messages or letters you would like to leave for loved ones Where to keep your checklist A folder in a filing cabinet works until the key goes missing or the folder is out of date. Whatever you choose, make sure at least one trusted person knows how to find it, and review it once a year or after a major change such as a new home, job or relationship. A secure online space can help because it can be updated at any time and shared with the people you choose. Lifebook Memories lets you record where documents are, add your wishes and give access to the people you trust. Common questions Should I store my passwords in the checklist? It is safer to record where your password manager or recovery details are kept and who can access them, rather than listing passwords in plain text. Does this checklist replace a will? No. A will is a legal document. This checklist helps your family find your legal documents and understand your wishes. Lifebook Memories is not a legal service. How often should I update it? Once a year is a good habit, and whenever something important changes. Organise your information with Lifebook Memories See how Lifebook Memories works at lifebookmemories.com, record your wishes and tell your family where everything is, so they are not left searching.