Do you have the Answers?

Far too often, as we go along in our busy lives, it seems that there are many, many tasks with a higher priority than organization. Although most of us have good intentions to clean out and update paper files, to organize our electronic files, or to gather all of our important documents in one place, actually getting these tasks done is another matter.

Your personal data may be all there…somewhere...but, the crucial question is: Where’s the central depository in case someone else needs access?

Preparation and organization can make a major difference for loved ones in dealing with the sudden illness and/or death of a family member. If you’ve been through this experience, you know that not having to search for information is a godsend. Conversely, the absence of an “Everything You Should Know in Case I have an Emergency” list can make things infinitely more difficult in the event of a crisis.

Have you made an “Everything” list? Here’s the sort of information you could include:

Lists:
· People to contact in case of emergency (or death), including names and telephone numbers for close family members and friends
· Names and telephone numbers for your advisors: clergy, attorney, financial advisor, accountant, banker, insurance agent, etc.
· What you own: real estate holdings, including locations of deeds and titles, current bank and brokerage accounts, etc.
· What you owe: outstanding bank loans, car loans, credit cards, etc.
· The kinds of insurance you carry and where the policies are and the names and telephone numbers of your primary medical caregivers
· What needs to be done for family members, your home, and your pets if you are not there to take care of them
· Your children’s schools, locations, phone numbers, and names of teachers
· The name and location of your vet and pet boarding facility

Answers:
· Where are copies of keys to your house, business, vehicles?
· Where do you bank?
· Do you have any valuables hidden away in your home or in a safety deposit box and where?
· Who are your medical and life insurance and long term care insurance carriers?
· Who are your vehicle and business insurance carriers
· Who are the doctors you have seen in the past 10 years?
· Are your children covered by a major medical policy?
· What are your burial and funeral instructions?
· Where is your will located?
· Where do you keep your tax returns?
· Do you have a Living Will and where is it located?

What about your business:
· What is the location of business records, including employment contracts, buy-sell agreements, etc?
· Who are your employees and what is their contact information?
· Who works which shifts and what are their duties?
· What are the names and telephone numbers of business partners?
· What are the instructions for the supervision or sale of your business?
· Who are the co-signers on your business checking account?
· What needs to be done to keep the business running in the event you are not there to do it?

Copies of important documents:
· Will and trusts
· Birth certificate
· Social security card
· Deeds to your home and other property
· Title to your vehicle(s)
· Loan papers
· Marriage certificate or divorce decree
· Passport
· Insurance policies
· Children’s birth certificates and social security cards

In case you want an organized reference to help you with this daunting task, check out this website: http://www.answersbook.com

The answers book was written by Becky Barker following the sudden death of her husband–a death that left her with questions and decisions for which she wasn’t prepared.

It’s easy enough to say we’ll put all this information together. The hard part doesn’t have to be doing it.