Use this checklist before making a decision

Organize healthcare wishes, decision-makers, hospice questions, funeral preferences, property, accounts, documents, and state-specific legal requirements. A checklist cannot decide an individual case, but it can prevent missed questions, missing records, and avoidable deadlines.

Decision checklist

  • List healthcare wishes, decision-makers, backups, important values, and where documents are stored.
  • Use state-valid forms and follow signing, witness, and notarization requirements.
  • Review beneficiaries, jointly owned property, debts, insurance, digital accounts, and funeral preferences.
  • Give current copies to the appropriate people and healthcare providers.
  • Ask hospice providers about eligibility, services, after-hours support, medications, equipment, and costs.
  • Review the plan after moves, deaths, divorce, diagnosis, account changes, or law changes.

Information to write down

  • The exact program, provider, company, service, product, or legal document involved.
  • The person’s state, county, ZIP code, coverage, deadlines, accessibility needs, and preferred contact method.
  • Names, dates, confirmation numbers, written notices, estimates, contracts, and appeal instructions.
  • The original source used to verify each important claim.

Questions to ask

  • Which rule or program applies to this exact situation?
  • What is the deadline, and what proves that the request was received?
  • What costs are excluded from the quoted amount?
  • What changes by state, plan, provider, or household?
  • Is there an appeal, grievance, correction, or second-review process?
  • Where is the answer published by the responsible agency?

Official sources

Related information

Within this subject: Updates and Official Changes, Official Help and Trusted Starting Points, Common Mistakes and Warning Signs, State-by-State Differences.

Also review: Long-Term Care, Home Care, Hospice, and Facility Quality, Memory Loss, Dementia, Cognitive Health, and Safety, Abuse, Neglect, Guardianship, and Exploitation.

Last reviewed

This checklist was reviewed on 2026-07-30. Verify current rules before acting.