A last kindness to your family - an asset list and an advance directive
With preparation there is grief but no panic. Without it, a family can spend years searching the house for bank accounts, passwords and property deeds. The first job is an "asset list" - bank accounts, real estate, insurance policies, retirement and investment accounts, where the safe is, and digital assets such as email, cloud photos and social media accounts. Just write where each thing is; you do not need balances or passwords. An Advance Health Care Directive states ahead of time whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you cannot express your wishes, and a Durable Power of Attorney names who can do your banking and sign for you when you cannot decide. A will is not about how much you own - it decides whether you choose, or the law chooses for you. This month, draft your asset list, hold a 30-minute family meeting, and tell at least two family members where the papers are kept.