What Should Be In A Death Folder?

Will:

Your will is a legal file that lists your wishes for your property, who will care for any minor children, who is responsible for distributing your assets, and other details. Access to this document is crucial for making sure your requests are carried out and your assets are properly distributed. You should also include any other estate planning files you have, such as a living trust, power of attorney, or advance healthcare directive. If you don’t have a plan, an attorney from Taneff Law can help you create one.

Insurance policies:

Include information on your life insurance company and life insurance policy, as well as any other policies you might have, such as for your vehicle, home, or health. This will make it easier for your family to manage or close the accounts as needed.

Pension policies:

If your beneficiaries are entitled to your pension, keep policy info like the policy number and contact information handy. This may help your beneficiaries receive payments faster.

Important contact information:

Your family may need to contact your lawyer, financial advisor, or other professional for access to records. Keep a list of contact information for these people and anyone else who might need to be contacted.

Financial information:

Keep account information for bank accounts in the folder so the money can be accessed and properly distributed. It’s also helpful to include financial info for credit card accounts, investment accounts, and mortgage and loan documents.

Business information:

If you own a business, you could include information about business ownership and anything else people would find helpful to know regarding your business.

Bills:

Keep a list of utility or service providers for your home, such as gas, electric, water, trash, phone and internet providers. This will make it easier for your family to pay any remaining bills and know which accounts should be closed.

Titles and deeds:

Include automobile titles and property deeds so they can be transferred to new owners in the future.

Other important documents:

You may also want to keep handy your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and passport. A lawyer at Taneff Law can help you create a list of all the files you should include in your folder.

Location of assets and documents:

Make a note of where important items or heirlooms are located, as this will make it easier to find and distribute your personal items per your will. If there are documents that you don’t want to keep in the folder, leave detailed instructions for where people can find them.

Passwords:

Keep a file that lists online account login information for your bank accounts, insurance accounts, and other sites people will need to access. If you keep important files on your computer, it can be helpful to create a list of steps that explains where your loved ones will find the files they need. You might also consider including passwords to your social media accounts and instructions for what you would like to happen to the accounts after you die.