Get It Together : Organize Your Records So Your Family Won't Have To

Everything you need to get organized This workbook provides a complete system for structuring and organizing your information and documents into a records binder. For each topic, you will find helpful content, rich resources, and step-by-step instructions. Also, available: A companion Binder & Tab Set, by Melanie Cullen. To purchase, search for "get it together binder and tab set." Do your loved ones know where to find your life insurance policies, online banking passwords, real estate deeds, or even your will? If you’re like a lot of people, you keep important information―from the whereabouts of family heirlooms to online passwords to automatic bill-pay details―in your head or stashed in the odd desk drawer. Unfortunately, this disorganization will likely cause hassles for those who someday take care of you or your estate. Get It Together provides an easy, straightforward method to help you and others keep track of: secured places and passwords employment records insurance policies real estate records tax records retirement accounts estate planning documents funeral arrangements letters to loved ones This updated 8th edition is a guide to gathering records, an organizer for you, and a road map for your survivors. All forms are downloadable through a link printed in the book. Also, available: A companion Binder & Tab Set, by Melanie Cullen. To purchase, search for "get it together binder and tab set." Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 Table of Contents......Page 8 Your Get It Together Companion......Page 14 About This Book......Page 16 Who Needs to Plan Ahead?......Page 17 The Importance of Complete Planning......Page 19 Completing Your Planner......Page 22 What the Planner Contains......Page 23 Seven Steps to Preparing Your Planner......Page 24 1: Instructions......Page 32 In Your Planner......Page 34 Keeping Your Documents Up to Date......Page 36 2: Letter to Loved Ones......Page 38 Tips for Writing Your Letter......Page 39 In Your Planner......Page 42 Keeping Your Letter Up to Date......Page 43 3: Biographical Information......Page 44 Where to Get Help......Page 45 In Your Planner......Page 50 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 52 4: Children......Page 54 Arranging Care for Children......Page 55 In Your Planner......Page 57 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 59 5: Others Who Depend on Me......Page 60 In Your Planner......Page 61 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 62 6: Pets and Livestock......Page 64 Arranging Care for Pets......Page 65 In Your Planner......Page 66 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 68 7: Employment......Page 70 In Your Planner......Page 71 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 72 8: Business Interests......Page 74 Estate Planning for Small Business Owners......Page 75 In Your Planner......Page 77 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 81 9: Memberships and Communities......Page 82 Types of Memberships and Communities......Page 83 Online Connections After You’re Gone......Page 84 Transferring Frequent Flyer Miles......Page 86 Where to Get Help......Page 87 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 88 10: Service Providers......Page 90 In Your Planner......Page 91 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 93 11: Health Care Directives......Page 94 Types of Health Care Directives......Page 95 How Health Care Directives Work......Page 96 Choosing Your Health Care Agent......Page 97 What You Can Cover in Your Health Care Directives......Page 99 Where to Get Help......Page 102 In Your Planner......Page 103 Keeping Your Documents Up to Date......Page 104 12: Durable Power of Attorney for Finances......Page 106 How Durable Powers of Attorney for Finances Work......Page 108 Choosing Your Agent......Page 110 In Your Planner......Page 113 Keeping Your Documents Up to Date......Page 114 13: Organ or Body Donation......Page 116 Do You Want to Be a Donor?......Page 117 Where to Get Help......Page 119 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 120 14: Burial or Cremation......Page 122 Burial or Cremation?......Page 123 Related Decisions......Page 128 Where to Get Help......Page 131 In Your Planner......Page 132 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 136 15: Funeral and Memorial Services......Page 138 Types of Memorial Services......Page 139 Where to Get Help......Page 142 In Your Planner......Page 143 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 147 16: Obituary......Page 148 What to Include in Your Obituary......Page 149 In Your Planner......Page 150 Keeping Your Obituary Up to Date......Page 152 17: Will and Trust......Page 154 Which Estate Planning Documents Do You Need?......Page 155 An Overview of Wills and Trusts......Page 157 Choosing Your Executor or Successor Trustee......Page 161 Avoiding Probate......Page 163 Where to Get Help......Page 166 In Your Planner......Page 168 Keeping Your Documents Up to Date......Page 169 18: Insurance......Page 170 What Kind of Insurance Do You Need?......Page 171 Where to Get Help......Page 181 In Your Planner......Page 182 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 183 19: Bank and Brokerage Accounts......Page 184 Making Your Accounts Accessible......Page 185 Avoiding Probate for Bank and Brokerage Accounts......Page 186 In Your Planner......Page 187 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 188 20: Retirement Plans and Pensions......Page 190 What Happens to Retirement Accounts When You Die?......Page 191 Where to Get Help......Page 194 In Your Planner......Page 196 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 198 21: Government Benefits......Page 200 About Social Security......Page 201 Where to Get Help......Page 203 In Your Planner......Page 205 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 206 22: Credit Cards and Debts......Page 208 Evaluating and Reducing Debt......Page 209 Where to Get Help......Page 212 In Your Planner......Page 213 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 215 23: Secured Places and Passwords......Page 216 Who Has Access to Your Safe Deposit Box?......Page 218 In Your Planner......Page 219 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 222 24: Taxes......Page 224 Tax Basics......Page 225 Estate and Inheritance Taxes......Page 226 In Your Planner......Page 227 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 229 25: Real Estate......Page 230 Ways to Own Property......Page 231 Special Rules for Married Couples......Page 233 In Your Planner......Page 235 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 238 26: Vehicles......Page 240 Leaving Your Vehicles to Others......Page 241 In Your Planner......Page 242 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 243 27: Other Income and Personal Property......Page 244 In Your Planner......Page 246 Keeping Your Information Up to Date......Page 248 28: Other Information......Page 250 Appendix A: Using the eForms......Page 252 Reviewing the Files......Page 253 Editing RTFs......Page 254 Appendix B: Lawyers and Other Experts......Page 256 What Kind of Expert Do You Need?......Page 257 Finding an Expert......Page 258 Working With an Expert......Page 259 Making a Fee Agreement......Page 260 My Planner......Page 262 Table of Contents......Page 264 1 Instructions......Page 266 2 Letter to Loved Ones......Page 272 3 Biographical Information......Page 274 4 Children......Page 284 5 Others Who Depend on Me......Page 290 6 Pets and Livestock......Page 294 7 Employment......Page 298 8 Business Interests......Page 302 9 Memberships and Communities......Page 312 10 Service Providers......Page 314 11 Health Care Directives......Page 320 12 Durable Power of Attorney for Finances......Page 322 13 Organ or Body Donation......Page 324 14 Burial or Cremation......Page 326 15 Funeral and Memorial Services......Page 332 16 Obituary......Page 338 17 Will and Trust......Page 340 18 Insurance......Page 344 19 Bank and Brokerage Accounts......Page 354 20 Retirement Plans and Pensions......Page 358 21 Government Benefits......Page 362 22 Credit Cards and Debts......Page 366 23 Secured Places and Passwords......Page 372 24 Taxes......Page 382 25 Real Estate......Page 384 26 Vehicles......Page 392 27 Other Income and Personal Property......Page 396 28 Other Information......Page 406 Index......Page 408 Book Registration and Updates......Page 433 Paperwork and personal information isn't always easy to find, and organizing your records can seem like an intimidating task. But, whether you need to organize records for yourself, your family or your executor, Get It Together will show you how to keep track of: instructions for survivors secured places and passwords final arrangements estate planning documents employment records insurance policies tax records retirement accounts government benefits, and real estate records. This workbook provides a complete system for structuring a records binder and easily organizing it for your loved ones. This edition is easier to use than ever, with fully updated resources and references. All forms are now downloadable at nolo.com Instructions Letter to Loved Ones Biographical Information Children Others Who Depend on Me Pets and Livestock Employment Business Interests Memberships and Communities Service Providers Heath Care Directives Durable Power of Attorney for Finances Organ or Body Donation Burial or Cremation Funeral and Memorial Services Obituary Will and Trust Insurance Bank and Brokerage Accounts Retirement Plans and Pensions Government Benefits Credit Cards and Debts Secured Places and Passwords Taxes Real Estate Vehicles Other Income and Personal Property Other Information Appendixes Using eForms Lawyers and other experts My planner.. Get It Together is a detailed workbook that helps you collect and organize your important papers and information. The author leads you through the process step-by-step, prompting you to find and keep track of: secured places and passwords employment records insurance policies real estate records tax records retirement accounts estate planning documents final arrangements letters to loved ones, and more. The end product will be an important and useful gift to those who wrap up your affairs after your death. Now available a companion Binder & Tab Set - search for'get it together binder and tab set'