Estate planning checklist for single parents

Single parents juggle caring for their kids and managing finances, so estate planning must be clear to avoid confusion during stress. This checklist includes wills, guardianship designations, power of attorney, insurance, and communication steps to ensure your children are cared for and your accounts stay accessible when you can’t manage them directly.

Start with a will and guardianship

A will names who inherits your assets and who cares for your children. Include:

• Primary guardian: Someone who shares your values and can step in full-time.
• Secondary guardian: A back-up if the primary can’t serve.
• Asset distribution plan: How you want the estate split (trusts for children until a certain age, schooling funds, etc.).

Work with an estate attorney or online resource to create a legally valid will. Keep digital and hard copies accessible (command center folder) so trusted people can find them quickly.

Establish powers of attorney

Appoint:

• Financial power of attorney (POA): Authorizes a trusted adult to pay bills, manage accounts, and handle legal paperwork if you become incapacitated.
• Healthcare proxy: Gives someone the authority to make medical decisions if you can’t.

Update the documents with agent details and the scope of authority. Notify the agents and provide copies; note their contact info in your financial journal or literacy circle so everyone knows who holds the decision-making power.

Protect with insurance

Ensure coverage aligns with your family’s needs:

• Life insurance: Enough to cover debts, future education, and living costs. Term policies are cost-effective and can be assigned to a trust for the children.
• Disability insurance: Replace income if illness prevents you from working; some policies allow pay for caregiving contributions.
• Health insurance: Keep family coverage active; know your COBRA or marketplace options in case employment changes.

Document the policies (provider, face amount, beneficiaries) in your command center and note premium payment schedules to avoid lapses.

Organize beneficiary designations

Review all retirement accounts, brokerage accounts, and insurance policies. Beneficiary designations supersede wills, so keep them updated after major life events (new child, divorce). If you want a trust to manage the funds, confirm the account pays into the trust, not directly to the child.

Use a spreadsheet listing each account, the current beneficiary, and the desired change. Revisit it annually during your financial retreat and after major changes.

Create an emergency contact binder

Include:

• Copies of IDs, Social Security cards, and birth certificates.
• Account numbers, policy details, and login instructions stored securely.
• A short “money map” describing where key documents live.

Consider encrypted cloud storage plus a paper binder kept with a trusted person or fireproof safe. Share a simple summary with a close family member so someone can act quickly if needed.

Plan for guardianship transitions

If your children move between households (co-parenting), coordinate with the other parent:

• Share the estate plan summary.
• Update guard shipping designations if circumstances change.
• Use neutral language (refer to couples article) to keep the conversation about logistics, not blame.

Keep the plan flexible

Review the checklist annually or when your situation changes (new job, move, additional child):

• Update wills, POAs, beneficiaries.
• Adjust coverage amounts.
• Re-run the estate plan playbook after major debts reduce or assets increase.

Log each review in your journal to track decisions and lessons learned.

Closing reflection

Estate planning for single parents protects both your kids and your peace of mind. Build the checklist, keep documents accessible, update it when life shifts, and share the plan with trusted allies. When you pair legal clarity with emotional preparedness, you ensure your family is cared for no matter what happens.