Organization that Provides Comfort to my Psyche

Organization that Provides Comfort to my Psyche

A friend and her husband were in Europe on holiday when her husband died suddenly. Not only did she have the devastating loss but the added complication of dealing with a death overseas. She returned home to take care of the legal complications of settling his affairs and getting his remains returned as well. To her surprise, when she arrived home, she discovered with very little searching a file folder in a dresser drawer that her husband had organized, with a list of every bit of personal and business account information and data she needed. Some months before he had gathered all of the information she would need — just in case.

Not to be negative, but a sudden demise could happen to anyone at anytime. Airline crashes, natural disasters, and everyday accidents bring death close to home. If you’re like me, you’re concerned with the effect on the people remaining.

Having recently lost both my parents and being responsible for settling their affairs, I determined to make it simpler and clearer for whoever settles mine.

So last weekend I made a list of the paperwork related to my life. Every credit card, insurance account (house, auto, health, life, etc.), resources I use (accountant, lawyer, doctor, vet, banker), all investment and retirement accounts, and so forth. Aside from personal accounts, I also put a summary sheet together of all utilities. I included the account number, contact name and phone number (if appropriate), password, and/or pin number. I made a list of closest friends to notify along with the contact info. I found my birth certificate, marriage certificate, and social security card. I listed all my internet accounts with log in info to cancel. Then I put it in a large file folder and marked OID (open if dead). I told my husband and brother where the folder is located.

Hopefully no one will need my file folder for a long time, but it sure makes me comfortable knowing my loved ones will have one less hassle if something does happen.