The U.S. Coast Guard has introduced a new handbook created to assist service members and their families with managing the complex tasks that arise after a veteran or service member passes away.
The Military Personnel Estate Planning & Final Affairs Handbook, issued by the Coast Guard, will first be mailed to military retirees and annuitants who are 65 years or older, but you can find it here.
This unofficial guide aims to empower survivors who often feel overwhelmed and unprepared for the urgent and critical steps that follow a loved one’s death. It provides:
• A primer on estate planning
• Information on legal assistance
• Guidance on advanced care and end-of-life decisions
• What needs to be done when a military member dies
• Support resources for grieving
• A fillable form to capture essential personal and estate-planning information
The handbook was developed through collaboration among several Coast Guard entities: the CG National Retiree Council (CGNRC), the Personnel Service Center (PSC), the Assistant Commandant for Health, Safety & Work-Life (CG-1K), the Coast Guard Reserve command (CG-R), and the Office of Legal Assistance (CG-LAD-L).
Rear Admiral Michael J. “Joe” Raymond, in a letter that accompanies the handbook, emphasizes that the guide’s intended audience is broader than retirees alone. Active duty and Reserve members—basically anyone 18 or older—will benefit, since everyone should have a basic estate plan and an understanding of how to handle final affairs. He also points out that many will at some point be responsible for caring for aging or ill loved ones, managing end-of-life care, or dealing with grief. These topics are included in the guide as well.
Though written for military personnel, much of the content will also be useful to Coast Guard civilians and Auxiliary members.