Where there’s a will, there should be a way to find it when you die

If you died suddenly, would your partner know where your will and insurance policy are, where you bank and where your investments are? What about more mundane things like who services the furnace in your home and who your plumber is?

In a recent newsletter, I asked readers if they have answered the ‘what happens to my family if I die suddenly’ question. My aim was to help people feel more in control of their lives by having a will and term life insurance. A former lawyer and current reader of this newsletter responded with some additional thoughts I want to share.

He said wills and insurance are important, but so is making sure your partner and/or family members can find the information they need to manage your affairs and your household. To summarize this information, he created what he calls the ‘I’m Not Gonna Die, But …’ list.

Here’s the list:

My I’m Not Gonna Die, But … List

Fill in where applicable. Keep it safe. Remember to update it once a year.

LEGAL

My Will Is Kept:

My Power of Attorney is Kept:

My SIN is:

FINANCE

Our Bank Is:

My credit card is with:

Your credit card is with:

Car insurance:

Property insurance:

Life insurance:

My Pension is with:

Our Investments are with:

AROUND THE HOUSE

The cable provider is

The phone provider is:

Gas/oil provider is:

Our appliances/furnace etc are serviced by:

Our plumber is:

TECHNOLOGY STUFF

Cell phone provider:

Desktop computer password

Laptop password

Tablet password:

Categories on the list include legal, finance, house-related and technology. What you won’t find is space for passwords to bank and investment accounts or streaming services. I suggest you share these separately with your spouse and trusted family members only using a password manager.

If you’re the person in a relationship who doesn’t handle most or all of the financial matters, invite your partner to collaborate on an ‘I’m not gonna die, but..’ list. You’ll help yourself feel more secure, you’ll be doing that former lawyer a favour as well. “I’ve been trying for ages to get this advice out there,” he told me by e-mail. “It’s a mess for people when spouses/parents die.”