Shoeboxes full of paperwork, folders in a bin in the attic, a cedar chest in the basement filled with documents. Can you imagine trying to go through your loved ones home if they pass to make sure you have the needed access to their accounts? It would be a nightmare if you didn’t know where to start.
Think about yourself and your belongings right now.
Do you know where things like your birth certificate, marriage license, social security card, bank account information and deed to your house are? I bet at least one of those is making you stop and think, “wait, where is that??”
It’s a new year and it’s time to get your documents (both physical and online) in order and let your family know where they can find everything.
Here is a handy checklist of what you should get together:
- Birth certificate
- Social Security card or number
- Passport
- Marriage certificate(s)
- Divorce decrees
- Adoption papers (if applicable)
- Military discharge papers (DD-214), if applicable
- Checking and savings accounts
- Certificates of deposit
- Money market accounts
- 401(k), 403(b)
- IRA / Roth IRA
- Brokerage accounts
- Pensions
- Life insurance policies
- Health insurance
- Long-term care insurance
- Auto and homeowners insurance
- Deeds to real estate
- Survey, title policy, certificates of occupancy, evidence of paid off mortgages
- Mortgage statements
- Vehicle titles
- Business ownership documents
- Credit card accounts
- Personal loans or lines of credit
Digital assets are another thing to consider. You can use a password manager like LastPass or OnePassword to store your information and give the master password to your trusted family member. Or, have that password somewhere that someone can easily find
Start with your email addresses and passwords If you use online banking, compile the user names and passwords for those. The same with social media accounts, cloud accounts like Apple, Google, Dropbox, etc. If you have subscriptions to online magazines or software, get those on the list. Also if you use any digital wallets or crypto currency.
If any accounts have security questions attached, make sure you write those down, with the answers. Many times those are case sensitive, too. So pay attention to what is capitalized.
It’s also a good idea to compile your employers contact information, any benefits and stock options, along with the names and contact information of your executor, trustee, health care proxy, power of attorney, attorney, financial advisor, accountant, insurance agent, etc, if applicable.
Once you have done all this work, tell the people that need to know where your documents are stored; how they can access online information; how to get into any safe deposit boxes, and anything else they might need to know.
