Getting your affairs in order
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Read books like 'I’m Dead, Now What?' to understand the practical steps involved in handling a death.
It is very helpful.
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Avoid co-signing loans unless you can afford to pay them yourself.
If the primary borrower defaults or relationships break down, the asset may be repossessed and the co-signer left in a mess.
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Store a breakdown of all finances, including investments, accounts, solicitor instructions, and insurance, in a safe place.
Tracking down this stuff can be a nightmare, so keeping it organized keeps you at ease.
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Execute a legal Trust to cover estate matters, as informal folders of papers may not hold up in court.
Informal folders often mean little legally, whereas a Trust covers everything mentioned and is legal.
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Talk to your partner and family about death preparation and ensure they know about your finances to avoid administrative delays.
Lack of communication led to red tape when sorting out stocks after one person's father died.
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Create an 'In case I die' folder containing instructions for business operations, client invoicing, account locations, and autopay bills, and update it regularly.
It helps others sort things out efficiently.
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Document all assets (insurance, bank, brokerage) and their locations in a central place.
In a paperless era, family members may have difficulty finding everything or accessing email to retrieve bank statements.
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If a deceased relative has significant debt, hire a family law or probate attorney before paying any bills sent by collectors.
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Contact creditors immediately upon a death to inform them; some companies will pro-rate bills and stop charging after the date of death.
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Keep a dedicated, updated folder labeled 'Death' in a file cabinet containing all relevant documents.
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Update your wills and powers of attorney periodically, especially when life circumstances change such as children becoming adults.
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Ensure passwords and access credentials for digital accounts and devices are accessible to trusted family members so they can contact friends, cancel appointments, and manage finances.
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