"My Peace of Mind Book"

This book contains the papers your relatives, and other people close to you, will need both before, and after you die. A large loose-leaf notebook, an "accordion file", CDs or DVDs are ways to store the materials. Plan to have a session, at least once a year, with family and/or friends to discuss this book.

Place it in a convenient location, one where it is easily accessible. Look it over every year or so, and update it to reflect changes in legal and financial status, as well as your personal wishes. Taking the time to put this together is a real gift to you and for your survivors.

A. Health Care Directives, Power of Attorney, Five Wishes‰ (if legal in your state)
B. Hospice care
C. Long Term Care Policy
D. Funeral arrangements, and wishes - Cemetery plot deed
E. Obituary
F. Keys – house, car, safe deposit box
G. Emergency phone numbers – email addresses
H. Safety deposit box information and keys – including location
I. List of people to be notified with addresses, phone numbers and email addresses
J. Documents: Birth and Marriage certificates, Divorce decree, social security cards
K. Insurance papers: Life – Home – Automobile
L. Ethical will & personal letters
M. Personal goods list – who wants what; who gets what (items possibly not in the will); what goes somewhere else – charity, organizations, etc.
N. Wills and Trusts
O. Automobile Title, Mortgage, Apartment lease
P. Bank Accounts: Savings – Checking - Certificates
Q. Credit Cards
R. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, other investments
S. Social Security or Employee Pension information
T. Medicaid and Medicare records
U. Business list – own outright, partners
V. Photographs (label them)
W. Genealogy
X. Property – home, second residence, cabin, farm, land, appraisals, collections
Y. Tax Records (Federal, State, others)
Z. Copies for family members, attorney, doctor, financial planner/banker.

Richard Kessler, Family Conversations™, 2008 rkessler@cpinternet.com