A bit morbid, but what’s in your “Death folder”?

[ChaChaChaChanges]

I’m putting together a folder so that in the (hopefully very unlikely) event of my sudden death, my relatives have all the information they need readily available. Here’s what I have so far:

• my will
• details of my bank accounts - current and savings
• details of my investment account
• my pension details
• my employment details, which includes life insurance
• all of the utilities - electric, water, gas, phone
• my mobile contract details
• my home (as opposed to work) email and social media accounts. Not sure whether to include passwords, just in case?
• insurance contracts (buildings, contents, car, pet)

What am I missing?

Thank you!

But they're emailed now. As with everything nothing comes as paper copy.

@Moier - when you say that there’s just one number your daughters have to call - is that a particular service you’re signed up to?

Thanks again to all posters.

Do pp mind saying how old they are?
I'm 57, divorced so everything that is related to my will etc my children will have to deal with.
I sometimes think what if I was run over by a bus tomorrow? Would they be able to find stuff? (they are adults of course).
Lots to think about here - time to sort out everything I think.

If you're including account details, passwords and logins, just be careful where you're putting the file in case you are burgled

We’ve done wills and lpas so everything is sorted, although we should talk about bank accounts/investments, I suppose.

Do a letter of wishes for animals/funeral.

Mine includes where to find the current documents (fire safe /filing cabinet and stuff like that so that the documents are still functional day to day). My best friend knows where my 'book' is. It also has other things in it that are 'too small' to go in my will, but I know she'll sort out for me & a few letters etc.

I haven't got one...that's tomorrow's job!

We have got a will, and all the household stuff in one folder with life insurance etc for the kids, but I don't have one of my own with all my personal accounts etc on.

Your death folder is no different from my ‘Important Documents’ folder with the exception of social media info (though I have very little).

good idea though.

I’ve got my paid up front funeral company details.
Will.
Medical directive.
suppose I ought to list utilities, bank details, friends overseas to contact. Another bloody job to add to the list.

A brief biography.
I thought I knew Mum's key dates, jobs, when she moved towns etc, but actually I didn't.
A funeral celebrant usually does a chronological run through of the person's life, so having this noted down would save a lot of time and also guilt, as I felt I 'should have' known

If anyone wants a Living Will/ Medical Directive I found this organisation very helpful. https://compassionindying.org.uk/how-we-can-help/living-will-advance-decision/

From experience of dealing with my parents' estate, details of the government service for "Tell Us Once" is useful, apologies if I have already missed it on the thread. Things you wouldn't think of like milkman. Contact details for friends etc you would like contacting, and how. Advise them to get multiple death certificates for admin, worth the cost. Post redirection for their house.

As someone who has already done my will and information pack, as sadly I'll need to use it (well I guess we will all need to use it, let's face it!) I would also advise discussing everything in a conversation with your family in advance, funeral wishes etc. Not easy conversations, but so worth it, things like this need to be out in the open. It makes it easier on everyone, IMO.

My focus is also on making my DCs and DHs lives easier. My preference is no funeral but If they feel they would like to have one, they should go ahead and do it. I wont know!

I'm 63, the relative that recently died and prompted me to write my list was 62, very sudden and not necessarily expected.
Trying to find out all his "stuff" has been very difficult for the family left to deal with the estate, especially as they don't all live locally, all work full time and have children, pets, family of their own etc.
When anything happens to me or dh, my children just need to sit down with my book, ring all the numbers I've provided and speak to various companies, they have all the reference numbers and don't have to trawl through pages of paperwork to find the information. I've done mine, just doing dh's now.
Once done I'll remind them what I've done (they roughly know already) and put the book in a safe place that they're aware of. It's taken a bloody long time so far, and that's with me knowing where everything is!

Two more things I've thought of.
Pets- vet details, microchip number, insurance policies, anyone who might have a key to go and get them if say you were both in a car accident and ended up in hospital. Possibly any issues re care or medication.

I only found this out recently, but if you advise the DVLA that someone has died and give them the car registration that the deceased person had, it cancels the car tax immediately. Good to know.

I couldn't find my marriage certificate so I've ordered a paper one. You need one for lots of things and a PDF won't do.

Also, Apple let you set up a legacy contact now, which gives the nominated person access to photos and notes etc even if they're not an Apple user. You need set up a Key for the norminatd person and Apple will release information upon receipt of the death certificate.

Also, all paperwork like wills and useful information is stored in paper form in my file box, but I've also emailed electronic copies to my DH and DC for easy access.

I have everything listed here in folders as a matter of course - my bills are filed monthly/annually so my DC would just need to work through that folder.

I have my will there too, after recently arranging my mum's funeral I think I'd like to add my thoughts for my own to save any worries for my dc.

How do you want your death notice worded?

My mother dictated hers to me over the phone!

Ooooh I'd not thought of adding contacts in mine (who to notify).

@OldTinHat that's actually been quite important to me. Obviously my closest friends know the situation and would expect a call, but some friends/family who I'm not as close to don't know the situation. So I've listed who I would like contacting and how eg phone call, email.

A list of which key does what (perhaps only relevant if, like my parents, you have a number of outbuildings and a number of padlocks per outbuilding!)

Two of the things that struck me when sorting my late DMs estate was access to her address book (my contacts are all in my phone) and passwords to banking/utilities etc. As my own phone has facial recognition access I'm not sure how my DC would access any of my contact and bank info etc. So have created a hard copy list of key info to go in the wallet containing my will etc. Just seen the comment about potted biography as well as my DC wouldn't know much detail about my life before they arrived ;)

Powers of Attorney (for pre death)
Passwords and access numbers for things like your safe, ipad, phone etc
List income and expenses, assets and liabilities and ensure contact details and reference numbers are listed to make cancellation/settlement of them all a bit easier
Passbooks if you have any accounts held this way.
Premium Bond details!
Important email addresses and phone numbers to advise friends and family you have passed away - especially where you aren't in regular contact but do want them told
Funeral wishes. In fact, if you plan your funeral and even write your own eulogy it will be helpful at a difficult time for those close to you.

Oddly enough I've been doing one too this weekend.

Not only because my DH doesn't know all our accounts but also because I can't remember everything too (menopause brain)!

@ssd Fill in the book!