Preparing for the death of a loved one can be a very overwhelming, emotional, and challenging time. Planning for the future can make all the difference in an emergency and at the end-of-life. Being prepared and having important documents and other information in a single place can give you peace of mind, help ensure your wishes are honored, and ease the burden on your loved ones. After the death of of a loved one we want to focus on remembering, grieving, and gathering together with our friends and family for emotional support. We don’t want to deal with a daunting pile of paperwork — attending to final arrangements and the many legal, financial, and other tasks that need to be accomplished. This time can be made easier by taking some necessary steps to gather and locate important documents prior to the time of death. It is recommended that after these items are gathered, kept in a secure location and easily accessible. Once the documents are gathered, tell someone you trust where to find your "in the event of death" paperwork. 

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Information and Documents to Include

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1.  Personal Information

          Full Name (maiden name, if applicable)

          Home Address (& previous address(es))

          Parents/Siblings Full Names

          Birthdate/Place (birth certificate)

          Home & Cell Phone Numbers

          Social Security Number (copy of social security card)

          Education

          Spouse Full Name (marriage license)

          Domestic partnership registration

          Driver’s license or state ID

          Passport, citizenship, immigration and/or alien registration documents

          Pets (names, vet, vet records, who to take care of in event of...)

          Armed Forces ID/Discharge Papers

          Divorce Certificate

      

2.  Will and/or Trust

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3.  Deeds and Titles

          Property deeds (including any recent appraisals)

          Mortgage documents (and promissory / loan notes)

          Vehicle titles and registrations (car, boat, RV, motorcycle, etc.)

          

​4. Insurance Policies

           Life insurance (including premium payment records)

           Accidental life insurance

           Veterans’ insurance

           Employers or pension insurance

           Funeral insurance (or other death-related benefit plan)

           Mortgage and/or credit insurance

           Credit card insurance (for balances)

           Health insurance (including Medicare, Medicaid, Supplemental, private,             dental, and vision)

           Property insurance (homeowners/renters’ insurance, car insurance, etc.)

           Worker’s compensation insurance (and payment records)

           Long-term care insurance

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5. Financial Information – include most recent statements for all accounts and        list the beneficiaries, if any.

           Bank accounts – checking, savings, CD’s, etc.

           Investment/brokerage accounts, IRAs, 401Ks, etc.

           Stocks and bonds

           Annuities

           Credit and debit card accounts

           Safety deposit boxes, keys, and authorized users

​           Any automatic withdrawals/payments

           Expenses (mortgage/rent, credit cards, utilities, car payments,                             memberships, subscriptions, etc.)

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6. Other Financial Records

           Survivor annuity benefit papers

           Employer / retirement benefit (pension) plans, pension/profit-sharing               plans, etc.

           Veteran’s benefit records

           Disability payment documents (State, Veteran’s, etc.)

           Income tax returns (from the current year)

           Gift tax returns (for all years)

           Property tax records and statements

           Business interest held, financial statements and agreements,                               contracts, etc.

           Loans in my name (credit cards, home equity, vehicles, etc)

           Investment records

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7. Legal Papers

          Court documents for adoptions and divorce (including any property                    settlement agreements, name changes, prenuptial agreements, etc.)

          Military service papers, including discharge records

          Deceased’s final instructions, disposition authorization, and/or                              designated agent forms (sometimes included in an advanced directive              such as a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care)

          Organ/tissue donation record

          Community property agreements         

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8. Important Contact Information (include name, phone number, email and/or      mailing address of:

           Accountant

           Attorney

           Banker

           Clergy

           Employer

           Executor of Estate

           Financial Planner

           Funeral Home

           Health Care Proxy

           Insurance Agent

           Pension/Retirement Fund Contact

           People Who Should be Notified

           Power of Attorney

           Stockbrocker

           Tax Preparer

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9. Electronics and Online Accounts (usernames and passwords)

           Online Account Access

           Cloud Storage

           Delivery Services

           Email Addresses

           Entertainment (streaming channels, music, gaming, etc.)

           Healthcare (electronic medical record)

           Shopping

           Software Licenses

           Travel

           Web Hosting

Social Media

           Usernames and passwords for each platform (Facebook, Instagram,                   TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc)

Unlocking Electronics/Security

            Apple ID

            Cellphone

            Computer

            Home Security System

            Internet/ WiFi Rounters

            Other

 

10. After Death Checklist

           Arrange for care of family and/or pets         

           Collect documents and paperwork

           Forward mail

           Notify upon death list

           Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate

           Secure property (house, apartment, etc.), if necessary

           Secure vital statistics (required documents)

• Birth certificate

• Certified death certificate

• Divorce certificate

• Legal Will   

• Marriage license

• Social Security card

           Update and Close Accounts

           Cancel Memberships & Subscriptions​

           Forward mail

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