How to Prepare for My Death
Death comes for all of us, regardless of health, money or status. While we cannot stop death, we can prepare for it to make the adjustment easier for our families and beneficiaries. This involves making decisions before death occurs and leaving clear instructions for those executing your will. The process of preparing this information is not difficult, but it can be time-consuming and it can force you to face the fact of your own mortality.
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Instructions
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Make funeral arrangements so your family does not have to. You can make specific location arrangements well ahead of time by contacting a local funeral home or mortuary. You can even leave instructions regarding the music that should be played, who should speak and who the pallbearers should be. Simply write it all down and leave it, along with necessary documentation, where someone will be able to find it.
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Prepare a will so that your family will have no reason to fight over it once you're gone. You may also want to include a living will and a medical power of attorney. It may be necessary to consult an attorney if your will is complicated. However, you can also use software designed for preparing a will. Once completed you should have it notarized and have an attorney review it to protect it from later challenge.
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List all of your bank account numbers, locations of safety deposit boxes, insurance information and all other information pertinent to your finances. This can even include real estate and any valuable collections you own. Place this information in a safe place but leave its location with a trusted family member or attorney. This will make it much easier for family to carry out your wishes after your death.
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Write the details of your life. Focus on the joy and pain of your life, the people you knew and loved as well the events that shaped your life. You can also include old photographs with the biography. This memory book will give your loved ones a chance to reminisce about your life and ease the grieving process.
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Plan early and videotape important things in your life, such as special events or family gatherings. Your loved ones will cherish these memories after you are gone.
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