Household bill handoff: blank checklist

HOUSEHOLD BILL HANDOFF
A first pass for two people | About 45 minutes | No payments during the test
Usual bill payer: __________________  Person taking over: ________________
Date checked: _____________________  Next review: _______________________
Current private bill list lives here: ___________________________________

1. CHOOSE THREE BILLS (10 MINUTES)
[ ] Pick essential bills due in the next 30 days. Include a manual payment,
    an automatic payment, and a variable or less frequent bill if possible.
[ ] Gather current statements and payment settings. Check facts together.

2. RECORD THE NEXT ACTION (15 MINUTES)
Use account nicknames only. Keep credentials and full numbers off this page.
For more detail, keep one full record per bill in your private bill list.
BILL 1 / PROVIDER: ______________________________________________________
Official site or verified contact: ______________________________________
Statement location / amount or amount source: ___________________________
Due date / action or withdrawal date: ___________________________________
Payment method / bank or card nickname: _________________________________
How to confirm completion / access status: ______________________________
BILL 2 / PROVIDER: ______________________________________________________
Official site or verified contact: ______________________________________
Statement location / amount or amount source: ___________________________
Due date / action or withdrawal date: ___________________________________
Payment method / bank or card nickname: _________________________________
How to confirm completion / access status: ______________________________
BILL 3 / PROVIDER: ______________________________________________________
Official site or verified contact: ______________________________________
Statement location / amount or amount source: ___________________________
Due date / action or withdrawal date: ___________________________________
Payment method / bank or card nickname: _________________________________
How to confirm completion / access status: ______________________________

3. CHECK PERMISSIONS (10 MINUTES)
[ ] Identify who may view bills, discuss them, pay, and change settings.
[ ] Ask the provider about gaps. A note or password does not grant authority.
[ ] Identify authorized access to the funding account and payment status.
[ ] Keep two-factor authentication on. Do not bypass a missing-device issue.

4. TRY THE HANDOFF (10 MINUTES)
[ ] The other person finds the list and identifies the next bill to check.
[ ] They locate its statement and explain the amount, dates, and method.
[ ] They find payment evidence where authorized and explain the next step
    if a payment fails. Check unclear status before paying a second time.
[ ] No payments, setting changes, or credential resets during this test.

OPEN QUESTION / PERSON CHECKING / TARGET DATE
________________________________________________________________________

FINISH
[ ] Date one current private version; agree who can access it.
[ ] Later, scan a year's records for annual or quarterly bills and renewals.
[ ] Update after a provider, bank, card, home, or responsibility changes.
Do not include passwords, PINs, recovery codes, Social Security numbers, or
full account/card numbers. Share only with the people you choose and trust.
This is an organizing aid for U.S. households, not legal or financial advice.
Checked October 18, 2026 | Companion to DearFile's household bills guide