Keepsake resources
Legacy
Keep the material, then make something people can read.
Preserve family stories and their source files, write a legacy letter or build a memory book. These resources help with the personal record, not legal or financial planning.
Start here
A fictional family memory book sample
Template · Three original fictional stories in the current text-only book layout
How to preserve family memories, from files to stories
Choose a first family-memory project, keep the originals and their context, make backups, and decide what to share or turn into a book.
How to make a family history book, from scope to printed copy
Plan a family history book that relatives can follow: choose a scope, map chapters, label sources, check facts, then lay it out and print it.
Personal life timeline: milestones and a printable worksheet
Build a personal or family life timeline with dates, places, sources and room for uncertain memories. Use the printable worksheet to start.
Printables
A fictional family memory book sample
Template · Three original fictional stories in the current text-only book layout
Life timeline worksheet
Worksheet · Dates, places, sources and stories to explore
30-day family journaling challenge
Challenge · A month of prompts about family memories and values
Legacy letter outline
Outline · A simple worksheet for an ethical will
Family history book template
Template · A printable chapter plan for turning family stories into a book
Guides
How to make a family history book, from scope to printed copy
Plan a family history book that relatives can follow: choose a scope, map chapters, label sources, check facts, then lay it out and print it.
How to preserve family memories, from files to stories
Choose a first family-memory project, keep the originals and their context, make backups, and decide what to share or turn into a book.
Memory book ideas to preserve family stories
Memory book ideas for a baby, wedding, retirement, memorial, grandparent or someone living with dementia, with a six-step process and prompts for the stories behind the photos.
Family heirlooms: examples and how to record their stories
Identify family heirlooms, from recipe cards to jewelry. Record who owned each object, distinguish memories from facts and keep the story with it.
Legacy letter template for values, memories and personal wishes
A fill-in legacy letter template, a fictional example and prompts for writing an ethical will that shares your values, memories and hopes.
From the blog
How to write an obituary: what to include, a template and examples
What goes in an obituary and in what order, a fill-in template, three fictional examples, what to leave out for safety, and what newspapers charge.
What to say when someone dies: in person, by phone and by text
Simple words to say to someone grieving, face to face, on the phone or in a text, what to avoid, how to offer real help and how to check in weeks later.
How to write a memoir: start with one chapter of your life
Choose a period, draft a scene and check what you remember. A practical memoir guide with an original planning worksheet and a labeled fictional example.
Personal life timeline: milestones and a printable worksheet
Build a personal or family life timeline with dates, places, sources and room for uncertain memories. Use the printable worksheet to start.
What to write in a sympathy card: 40 example messages
40 sympathy card messages to adapt, grouped by who died and how well you know the family, plus sign-offs, a late card and what to leave out.
30 grief journaling prompts for memories and private reflection
Optional grief journaling prompts for writing about what you need now and remembering someone who died. Skip any question, keep entries private and write at your own pace.
Sharing difficult family stories: consent, context and privacy
Decide what to share, with whom and whether to record it. Separate firsthand memories from uncertain accounts, respect boundaries and avoid turning painful history into a lesson.
A legacy planning story checklist for family memories and archives
List the stories, objects and files you want to preserve, record their sources and sharing choices, and leave practical archive instructions alongside your separately prepared legal documents.
Frequently asked questions
A legacy letter (also called an ethical will) documents your values, life lessons, hopes for loved ones, and the stories behind important decisions. Unlike a legal will that distributes assets, it passes on wisdom and meaning.
Choose when you want to make a personal record, if at all. These resources cover stories and keepsakes; legal and financial planning need their own appropriate advice and documents.
Ask whether the person wants that discussion and what they want recorded. Do not use a family interview to introduce a subject they have declined. Medical decisions and legal instructions need their own appropriate records.