How to make life easier for loved ones in case of your own death

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Make a guide with the most important information.

Why do it

Of course, thinking about your death is unpleasant. But try writing a guide with instructions on how to access your accounts and devices, where your funds are stored, what your funeral wishes are. You can also attach a will to it, if you have one. This way you:

• reduce the amount of hassle for loved ones in a difficult time;
• see the state of your affairs now;
• you will always have the most important information and documents at hand;
• you will feel that you have everything under control - perhaps preparedness for the worst will even bring you confidence and calmness.

We suggest that you first read this manual in its entirety, and then take the time to carefully consider all the points, draw up the instructions itself and collect additional papers. Then print it and keep it in a folder along with your documents.

Where to begin

Create a new document in a program convenient for you. You can write on paper, but the electronic file will be easier to edit. Plus you will be able to copy and paste long account numbers rather than writing them by hand.

Since the instructions will include your passwords, think about where it will be stored. Choose the option that you think is the safest. Alternatively, you can leave a blank space in the digital version of the manual and enter the password only on the printout.

There are more sophisticated ways to provide access to your accounts. For example, in some password managers, you can add the contacts of a person who will have one-time access in an emergency. It's up to you if you trust this technology. Remember: there is always a chance that your loved one will forget the username or password from the mail you specified. It is easier to provide data from your account to a trusted person so that he can directly log into it.

Keep a notebook handy to jot down tasks and reminders as you progress. Mark in a different color the places in the instructions that will need to be supplemented later.

What to include in the instruction

1. Devices and accounts

Your loved ones will need at least access to your computer and phone in order to sell them or give them to someone in the family. Write down all the gadgets that you have, and next to them the passwords to enter. Be sure to indicate if the device is provided to you by your employer.

If you can log into some accounts only with the help of the message that comes to the phone, be sure to mark this too.

2. Accounts

Specify accounts with names and numbers, as well as sites where you can see the balance and your login information. For example, it can be a checking, savings or retirement account, credit cards, insurance.

3. Automatic payments

We are talking about paying for housing and communal services, subscriptions to various services, monthly donations. In theory, automatic payments will be suspended when the accounts are closed. But it is better for your loved ones to know about the possible costs that await them if you do not deal with this issue in time. Here, indicate the online stores where your card data is saved and you can buy something with one click. It would be better for authorized persons to immediately delete this information so as not to worry that intruders will gain access to it.

4. Material things

This is not a will, so there is no need to make a detailed description of the property. Just indicate the main objects that relatives will have to deal with. You can also include something that at first glance does not seem valuable, but is actually worth a lot, such as art or antiques.

5. Means of transportation

Don't get too technical. Write down whether the car belongs to you or whether you still need to pay off the loan for it, where the documents for it are stored, whether there is something valuable in the car that is worth knowing about. If you have any other means of transportation, mention them too.

6. Mail

Indicate to which address your correspondence arrives, whether you have a post office box and, if so, how to access it.

7. Accommodation information

For example, the code from the intercom, the contacts of the apartment owners (if you are renting a house) and other data that may be useful to your loved ones.

8. People to be notified of your death

If you live far from your family, it is quite possible that your relatives do not know your friends and colleagues, and they do not know them. So make a list of people to report your death. It is not necessary to indicate all the acquaintances, just a few who can convey information to others. Don't forget to add their phone numbers and other contacts. You can also write the text of the appeal that relatives will post on your social networks.

9. Directions for a funeral

If you have specific wishes or have already made some preparations, please mark it. So you save loved ones from unnecessary trouble and decision-making.

How to write an introduction

So, you have in your hands a rather detailed document, a folder with additional materials and a list of tasks that appeared in the process of drawing up the instructions. Now you need to write an introduction in which you explain why all this is needed and to whom it is addressed. For example:

I'm sorry you have to deal with all this. I will try to keep the task as simple as possible. I compose this instruction for such a date and include my current data in it. It will be in the folder with the most important documents. In the same folder you will find my passport, a copy of my license, TIN and other useful information.

At the top of the document, write a title, such as "Important information in case of illness or death." Be prepared to revise and revise the instructions in the future. You can even set yourself a calendar reminder to do this once a year.

How to inform your loved ones about instructions

For people to be able to use the document, they must know about it. So warn them and tell them why they made it. Be prepared to be worried or misunderstood. Try to explain that you just want to take care of everything in advance and live in peace.

Don't send your family a copy of the instructions right now. If for some reason it is necessary, seal it and agree that it will only be opened if you die.

What then

The instruction has been drawn up, the documents have been collected, the relatives have been notified. All you have left is the list of tasks. Perhaps you wanted to write a will or conclude a lifetime contract for the provision of funeral services. We decided to install a password manager or realized that it was time to get rid of unnecessary things in the house. Or maybe they realized that they wanted to resolve old conflicts or atone for old grievances. Include this in your plans for the near future, and take the documents and instructions to the designated place.

Now you can enjoy life in peace, knowing that you have taken care of loved ones and put things in order.