Getting Your Affairs in Order Checklist: Documents to Prepare for the Future

As we age, it is important to have our affairs in order. No one can predict the future, but taking steps to prepare for the inevitable can provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Here is a checklist of important documents to consider preparing:

Estate Planning Documents

• Last Will and Testament: A legal document that outlines your wishes for how your assets and property should be distributed after your death.
• Power of Attorney: A legal document that designates someone to make financial or legal decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.
• Healthcare Power of Attorney: A legal document that designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to do so.

Financial Documents

• Bank account information: Keep a list of all your bank accounts and relevant information.
• Investment account information: Keep a list of all your investment accounts and relevant information.
• Insurance policies: Keep a list of all your insurance policies and relevant information.
• Debts: Keep a list of all your debts, including credit card debts, mortgages, and loans.

Personal Documents

• Birth certificate: A legal document that proves your identity and age.
• Social Security card: A government-issued card that shows your social security number.
• Passport: A government-issued travel document that proves your identity and citizenship.
• Marriage certificate: A legal document that proves your marriage.

Digital Assets

• Email and social media accounts: Keep a list of all your email and social media accounts and relevant information.
• Online banking and investment accounts: Keep a list of all your online banking and investment accounts and relevant information.
• Passwords: Keep a list of all your passwords for digital accounts and devices.

Final Arrangements

• Funeral arrangements: Pre-plan your funeral and make your wishes known to your loved ones.
• Cemetery plot and burial information: Keep a record of any cemetery plots you own and relevant information.
• Organ donation: Consider becoming an organ donor and make your wishes known to your loved ones.

Keeping Your Documents Safe After preparing all of these important documents, it’s important to keep them safe and easily accessible. Consider keeping them in a fireproof safe or a safety deposit box at a bank. You may also want to make copies and give them to trusted family members or friends. Additionally, it’s important to regularly review and update your documents as needed to ensure they accurately reflect your current wishes and circumstances.

In conclusion, getting your affairs in order can be overwhelming, but it’s an important step in ensuring that your wishes are carried out and your loved ones are taken care of in the future. By preparing the documents listed above and keeping them safe, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for whatever the future may hold.