Senior couple checklist: before you leave
The house, the bills, the paperwork and the family talk. A checklist built from the senior missionary site, with room for your own notes.
The house
- Decide: family lives there, rent it out, sell it, or leave it empty.
- Know your official report date before agreeing to move out.
- Tell your insurer if the house will be empty; they may need different coverage.
- Serving abroad? Visas can take months. Don’t leave your home before the visa arrives.
- Have a reverse mortgage? Ask your lender how long you can be away, and get it in writing.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Bills and money
- Set utilities, insurance and property taxes on automatic payment.
- Switch to online statements and banking.
- You don’t have to pay off every debt first, but plan how you’ll keep up with payments plus your mission costs.
- Housing (up to $1,400 a month for couples) and any Church vehicle ($150 a month) are charged to your home ward missionary fund. See costs: young vs senior.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Taxes and mail
- Mission contributions and some personal expenses may be tax deductible. Ask your tax adviser.
- Serving abroad, have mail forwarded to a family member or the person handling your finances.
- Forwarding mail out of state for a long time can affect your state tax status, so check first.
- Planning back-to-back missions longer than 23 months? Ask a tax adviser about the effect.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Legal
- Make or update a will.
- Set up legal and medical power of attorney.
- Consider a living trust.
- Keep copies where a trusted family member can find them.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Talking with your children and grandchildren
- Share your plans early and invite their questions.
- Agree how you’ll stay in touch. Seniors are encouraged to call, email and video chat often, as long as it doesn’t get in the way of the work.
- Talk about big events. A leave of up to 10 days for an important family event can be requested; it needs your mission leader’s approval and you pay the travel.
- Family can visit with your mission president’s permission.
- Pick one adult child as the point person for mail, money questions and emergencies. Our family info sheet helps.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Being together all day
Couples generally stay together throughout the day and are never apart at night, though some tasks can separate you briefly. Your schedule is gentler than a young missionary’s, with room for study, exercise and rest. A few things couples find helpful: plan a little quiet time for each of you, divide chores clearly, and talk about expectations before you go.
Sources: Senior missionary FAQ
Next steps
Questions
Do we have to sell our house to serve?
No. The senior missionary site lists options: family lives there, rent, sell, or leave it empty. Tell your insurer if it will be empty.
Do we need to pay off all debt first?
No, but you should arrange to keep up with payments as well as your mission costs.
Can we come home for a family event?
You can request a leave of up to 10 days for an important family event. It needs approval, and you pay the travel.
Sources
. Unofficial: check your call packet and the Missionary Portal for your own details. Official pages and your leaders are always the final word. GotMyCall is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.