Organising a death book

[MikeRafone]

New year organisation

i need to put together a death book

ive started & listed savings accounts
bsnk account
pension
solicitor where original up to date will is lodged

password and code for iphone
password for Apple ID

one page for each item in case of change I can tear out page

what else do I need to put in the book?

I am wanting to make it as easy as possible for my dds

National insurance number.
Household suppliers - gas, electricity, broadband, council tax etc with account numbers.
Account numbers for things like Amazon.
Funeral preferences.

Utilities details and passwords (security check details) when my mum died it took us ages to realise she had set up an online account for the utilities and then ages again to sort it out.
Email account details/passwords
Any standing orders they will need to close down. (The bank will freeze the account when they tell them but the people who receive the SOs will not know unless they cancel the order)
Where you keep spare keys etc.
NI Number
NHS Number
Passport details (Number expiry date etc)
Do you have a blue badge (They're supposed to cut them in half and return)
If you have a car -Insurance details.

This is a great idea.

This is a really good idea and you’ve spurred me on to stop procrastinating and do this myself.

Everyone always says passwords, & I have mine in my death file. However, having dealt with the estates of DH, DM & Dad, be aware that the moment your death is reported to a most companies you will not be able to access the account, so tell people to take screenshots or write down details before they report the death.
Legally you are not supposed to use other people's passwords to access accounts. Of course it is practical to do so, but just be aware that it's not really how it is supposed to be done.

Names and addresses, numbers, emails of friends who you'd wish to notify of your death.

The location of treasured possessions, photographs you wish to pass on to your family. With photos, information on who the family members are is helpful too!

Funeral arrangements, preferred location, coffin type, flowers, favourite music, burial or cremation, preferred undertaker, family plot info if there is one.

You can buy books off Amazon that add a touch of comedy to the situation

It's like I'm dead.....but have a giggle on me 🤭

Pet chip numbers & their vet

Phone numbers and addresses for friends or relatives you'd like to be notified.

I've done this and have included my birth, marriage and divorce certificates as they are needed to register the death.
It's useful to include contact details of people (friends etc) to be informed of your death and details of any funeral arrangements you may have made in advance.

I recommend 'Your Last Gift' written by Matthew Hutton. The author was a tax and probate specialist while also a vicar and the book has some all round practical advice. I recall it is at Amazon.

I’ve been meaning to do this as it occurred to me that I’m the one who does all the household admin so I know who the car insurance is with etc.

What I would like to do is have it as a shared locked file between me and DH but I’d need something secure if it’s going to contain all that data.

If I knew without doubt I the internet could be secured this would be amazing business to have an online death book.

Give your loved ones a PIN code and everything they need is there. But working in cyber security sadly it should never happen.

But I'm getting ours organised.

Don't forget your funeral wishes and friends you'd like to be told.

When my dad died it was HMRC that were the most incompetent, so a government gateway account is very helpful.

Great thread.

We've just bought a small hotel-stye safe, not so much to keep stuff locked up but as a single place where all this documentation can be found.

Set up Legacy on Facebook etc so your account can be deleted by someone other than yourself.

Good idea.

Besides just the practical -
Messages for your loved ones. Any apologies you want to make.

I think one of the charities for older people has a free template for this.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/end-of-life-planning/lifebook/

copy of power of attorney?

not big things but if you want someone to have something small like a invaluable necklace or ornament pop that down, I have heard too much of the she said i could have it nonsense

Gosh, what a good idea. Thanks for this Mike!

Facebook password especially if you've added your birthday. It saddens me when I see Facebook birthday greetings "happy birthday, have a great day" when the person has died some years ago. Those that remember that person's birthday can do so without Facebook.

I'm dealing with this at the moment and would definitely advise writing as much down as possible.

Organising the funeral was so much easier and less stressful with instructions.

NI number is an easy one to miss, really important but many people know it and so don't have it written down.

Record any small gifts you want to make but also record any important items that people may not appreciate the significance of or things that are more valuable than might at first be thought. Dad mentioned while going through Mum's stuff that one of his cameras is pretty rare and sold with the box would fetch a good price to a specialist collector but if you didn't know you might bin it, give it away or sell it too cheaply.

If you have any other types of savings such as premium bonds

other medical things such as opticians and dentist to try to minimise letters such that you are due for eye tests.

list of app subscriptions on phone eg Spotify.

if you have anything abroad details of that.

list of people with contacts that only you may know and you would like to be informed eg an old work colleague or childhood friends.

Any favourite music - if you are happy for your family to vary what you have set up for your funeral then say that (I want anyone organising to be able to do what helps them with the grieving).

Medical and financial power of attorney
List of people friends and family to contact in event of your death.