Dying: Getting Things in Order Course
Free Course by Everything IFS Academy | Death and Dying Series
🎧 Audio - listen and learn (coming soon)
Welcome to the Free Getting Things in Order Course for Everyday People
There comes a point, near the end of life or simply at a thoughtful moment in the middle of it, when most people feel the same quiet pull: I should get my affairs in order. This course exists to make that pull answerable. Its central conviction is simple and runs through every module: getting things in order was never really about paperwork. It is love, made findable, the gift of a family that can grieve instead of guess because everything they need to find, decide, and honor was prepared for them in advance, and of your own quieter mind once the unfinished business finally goes still.
This course teaches getting things in order pure and complete on its own terms, with nothing else blended in, written in plain, emotionally human language anyone can follow, whether you work around death professionally or have never once said the word out loud at dinner. It is not legal or clinical training, and no part of it replaces an attorney; what it offers is real knowledge and guidance you can use in your own life and with the people you love. Each module gives you clear teaching, real-life examples, and the practical substance this topic deserves, including the part most resources skip: the actual process, who to contact, where the forms come from, what it costs, and what to do with the finished thing. And every module ends with a simple practice so you can begin using the skill right away.
This course is self-paced click-and-learn, with no tests, quizzes, exams, or homework. Feel free to move through the modules in order or jump straight to whatever interests you most. There is no right or wrong way to take this course.
Course Outline
Click any lesson below to begin.
Orientation
1. What Is Getting Things in Order?
A Voice That Speaks for You
2. The Advance Directive
3. The Living Will
4. The Healthcare Proxy and the Powers of Attorney
5. The DNR
6. The POLST and Other Portable Medical Orders
Money, Papers, and Passwords
7. The Will and What Happens Without One
8. Money, Bills, and Account Access
9. The Important Papers and the Letter of Instruction
10. Your Digital Life
Wishes Worth Writing Down
11. Funeral, Body, and Organ Donation Wishes
12. Home, Belongings, and Pets
13. People to Notify and Messages to Leave
The Calm Finish
14. Putting It in Order Without Overwhelm
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We Hope You Enjoyed the Course
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Disclaimer:
Everything IFS Academy is an independent educational platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the IFS Institute. While we strive for accuracy, errors can occur, and users are encouraged to cross-reference critical information. The courses in our Death and Dying series are educational and informational only, created to help everyday people think, talk, and make plans around the end of life. They do not constitute therapy, mental health treatment, clinical training, or crisis support, and they should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health care. Nothing in this course constitutes legal, financial, or medical advice; the documents it describes are governed by laws that vary by state and country, and readers should work with a qualified attorney, financial professional, or healthcare provider when preparing their own.
Crisis Support: 🚨
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, feel unsafe, feel at risk of harming yourself or someone else, or feel too overwhelmed to safely use self-directed practices, please pause this material and reach out for immediate support. Contact a licensed mental health professional, call or text 988 in the U.S. or Canada, or use your local emergency or crisis resources.
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