The Lawyer’s Desk: By John Buckley, Esq.
The days and weeks following your death will be extremely upsetting and stressful to your loved ones. As an estate attorney, I can tell you that a major contributor to survivor stress is having to search the deceased’s home to locate critical legal and financial records. Here’s a checklist of the type of documents you should organize in an easily found “Bucket List” folder:
- Your Last Will and Testament – the original is needed to probate your estate. Remember, if you make copies of the Will, do not remove staples from the original. A disassembled or re-stapled Will causes problems in Surrogate Court.
- Trust Documents – if you have created a Trust, place the trust document in your folder along with supporting documents like Letters of Appointment and Pour Over Wills.
- Deeds – remember to include your house and cemetery plot deeds as well as deeds for all out-of-state properties in your folder. Don’t forget time share ownership documents.
- Ownership titles to your automobiles.
- Stock certificates, bonds and U.S savings bonds.
- A list of all bank accounts, with bank names and branch addresses, account numbers as well as user names and log-in passwords, if internet based.
- A list of safety deposit boxes.
- A list of open mortgages and credit cards with lender or issuer names, account numbers and telephone contact numbers.
- Copies of your life insurance policies, the policy carrier and the name and telephone number of the agent through whom you purchased the policies.
- A list of your IRA’s, 401(k) and/or 403(b) accounts, and private pension documents.
- Copies of annuity contracts, including the issuing insurance company and agent contact names and telephone numbers.
- Copies of your tax returns for the past seven years as well as the names, addresses and telephone numbers of your tax preparer and accountant.
- Copies of your homeowner, umbrella and business insurance policies with agent names and telephone numbers.
- Copies of partnership and corporate operating agreements.
- Proof of loans you may have made, the amounts unpaid and the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the persons to whom you have made the loans.
- Documentation showing loans you may have taken from private parties and any other private party to whom you owe money. Include the names, addresses and telephone numbers of anyone to whom you owe money.
- Copies of your marriage license and divorce decrees.
- A list of your memberships in unions, church groups, veteran and fraternal organizations.
- A list of important documents, information and photos stored on your computer with log-in names and passwords.
- Obituary information. Make sure you list the things you know your kids will forget. Awards, organization memberships, the name of long deceased parents and siblings, even the names of pets you loved can be placed in your obituary.
Your foresight in assembling the bucket list will be a comfort to your family and will facilitate the distribution of your belongings to the persons to whom you intend.
This article is written by a member of the Oxman Law Group, PLLC (www.oxmanlaw.com). Any comments or inquiries are welcome and can be directed to Marc Oxman at 914-422-3900 or moxman@oxmanlaw.com.
