Monday, July 4, 2011
WSJ: The 25 Documents You Need Before You Die
Design your death dossier soon -- or you could be setting up your heirs for frustration and financial pain.
- Marriage license
- Divorce papers
- Personal and family medical history
- Durable health care power of attorney
- Authorization to release health care information
- Living will
- Do-not-resuscitate order
- Housing, land, and cemetery deeds
- Escrow mortgage amounts
- Proof of loans made and debts owed
- Vehicle titles
- Stock certificates, savings bonds, and brokerage accounts
- Partnership and corporate operating agreements
- Tax returns
- Life insurance policies
- IRAs
- 401(k) accounts
- Pension documents
- Annuity contracts
- List of bank accounts
- List of user names and passwords
- List of safe deposit boxes
- Will
- Letter of instruction
- Trust documents
https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2011/07/wsj-the-25-.html
Comments
My wife isn't going to like me telling her that we need Number 2 on the list.
Posted by: Woody | Jul 5, 2011 8:12:17 AM
Both of my parents died in the same car-train crash. I am so touched that my mother had put together a list of things like this. It was extremely useful, and at a time when I was very busy with funerals and injured children. Don't assume your spouse will be there to take over.
Posted by: Eric Rasmusen | Jul 4, 2011 12:30:36 PM
Thanks, Shag, for the "Don't Need Rupert" directive. Speaking of DNR's, why would a healthy person want to sign a "Do Not Resuscitate" order? That is a decision that patients should make at the stage of their illness when resuscitation seems likely to be needed.
Give me a "Please Resuscitate" document, so that if I haven't yet said farewell to friends and family, I can do so regardless of pain or physical incapacity.
Posted by: Bob | Jul 4, 2011 10:51:28 AM
If it's going to be that much trouble, I think I'll skip dying.
Posted by: BobG | Jul 6, 2011 7:17:11 AM