Home Financial Files - Organizing Your Finances - Part III

This is a continuation of a series I started a couple of weeks ago. Here are links to the other two posts in the series:

Part I

Part II

DEATH - AND ESTATE-RELATED INFORMATION

Use this checklist to gather infromation. Give a copy of the list and the relevant documents to whoever will be handling your affairs.

Documents

• Conformed copy of will. Original is held by:________________


• Copy of any other testamentary document (such as letter of instruction)


• Signed copy of power of attorney/durable power of attorney


• Signed copy of medical durable power of attorney/helath care proxy


• Signed ocpy of living will

Instructions in the event of death

• Funeral instrustions. Do you with cremation, memorial service, and/or funural with open or closed casket?


• Special information in death notice in newspaper. Papers to contact.


• Instructions regarding memorial gifts:


• Cemetery name:


• Address:


• Plot number:


• Location of deed to plot:


• People/institutions to contact:


• Employer:


• Lawyer


• Insurance agent:


• Mortgage holder:


• Social Security office:

Important notes: There should be only one signed copy of a will. If you change law firms, have the original attorney send the will to his or her successor. But your health care agent should have a signed copy of the health care proxy and living will.

A safe deposit box is sealed when the bank learns of the owner's death, so the will - and any other papers that may be needed immediately after death - should be left elsewhere. Spouses with separate boxes should not keep each other's wills in them in the event of death in a common accident.

Organizing Your Finances, Personal Finance, Death-Related Information, Wills