The old cliché that the only thing certain in life is death and taxes should give us cause to get our affairs in order. As we all know the death of a loved one is a time of confusion and emotional upheaval.
It is important that the next of kin know where to find records that will be needed when you are gone. By listing important records and their location you can ease the stress on family members.
Develop a list of important documents. By each document on the list indicate where the original of the document is stored. You may want to use a code to represent the location. For example, you may have the original copy of your birth certificate, military papers and your will in a safe deposit box at the local bank with a copy in your at home file system. You may have more than one copy of a document such as a living will. If you are older and spend time with children, friends or other relatives you might want to make sure they have copies of important documents, in case you forget to bring such copies with you when you visit.
This checklist of important documents (PDF) is a list of documents and suggested storage locations. Note it is important to have a list of your important documents. Some documents on this list may not apply to you. Complete your checklist and let the family members or member you have delegated to handle your affairs know where the checklist is located. You may want to leave a list with your attorney. Having a checklist not only will help your survivors, but it can also help you in the future to locate one of these documents for other purposes.
Your list should include important names, addresses, and telephone numbers that may help your survivors in dealing with your affairs. Be sure to list an entry for each person or place noted on Your Checklist of Important Documents.
Keep the original checklist with your will so that your personal representative or executor has access to it. Give a copy of your checklist to individuals who have copies of your important documents, such as your lawyer or personal representative. Keep copies of documents in your home file for easy access and others in a safe deposit box for security.
For more information contact your local county extension office.
