The 25 Documents You Need

Before You Die

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THE 25 DOCUMENTS YOU NEED BEFORE YOU DIE

Most experts recommend a comprehensive folder of documents that family members can
access in case of an emergency, so they arent left scrambling to find and organize a
hodgepodge of disparate bank accounts, insurance policies and brokerage accounts. Below is
a list of documents you should have a file with an attorney, in a safe deposit box or in a fireproof
safe, that someone else has the combination too, in your home.

Marriage & Divorce:

1.
2.

Marriage License
Divorce papers

Life Insurance and Retirement:

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Life Insurance Policies

Individual Retirement Accounts
401k Accounts
Pension Documents
Annuity contracts

Health Care Confidential:

8. Personal & Family Medical History
9. Durable Health-Care Power of Attorney
10. Authorization to Release Health-Care
Information
11. Living Will
12. Do-Not-Resuscitate Order

Bank Accounts:
13. List of Bank Accounts
14. List of all User Names
15. List of Safe-Deposit

Proof of Ownership:
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

Housing, Land and Cemetery Deeds

Escrow Mortgage Accounts
Proof of Loans Made and Debts Owed
Vehicle Titles
Stock Certificates, Savings Bonds and
Brokerage Accounts
21. Partnership and Corporate Operating
Agreements
22. Tax Returns

The Essentials:
23. Will
24. Letter of Instruction
25. Trust Documents

 Youll also want to add to your emergency records kit:

Contact information: Both your contact information and your emergency contacts
info. This includes your nearest relatives, your will executor(s), and employers.

Will and medical directives: Add a copy of your will/living trust and medical letter of
instructions (keep the originals with your legal representative).

Insurance: Homeowners, auto, medical, life, disability, and other insurance

agents/brokers contact info and policy numbers.

Financial accounts: Bank, investment, and credit card/loan accounts information,

including institution names, phone numbers, and account numbers.

Health records: Immunization records, allergies, dietary restrictions, medications,

medical/surgical treatments.

Pet information: Description of each pet, vet contact information, and any important
medical notes.

Property: Car information, home purchase papers/deeds, and other home inventory
items.

Again, adjust for your relevant information. Our Master Information Kit spreadsheet includes individual
sheets for most of these pieces of information, so just make a copy of the sheet
(File > Make a Copy) and start filling it out, in section at a time.

What it Holds on Flash Drive

Photos
up to

Hours
up to

Songs
up to

8 TB

1,600,000

or

615

or

2,000,000

6 TB

1,200,000

or

461

or

1,500,000

4 TB

800,000

or

307

or

1,000,000

3 TB

600,000

or

230

or

750,000

2 TB

400,000

or

150

or

500,000

1.5 TB

300,000

or

110

or

375,000

1 TB

200,000

or

76

or

250,000

750 GB

150,000

or

57

or

187,000

640 GB

128,000

or

49

or

160,000

500 GB

100,000

or

38

or

125,000

400 GB

80,000

or

30

or

100,000

320 GB

60,000

or

24

or

80,000

250 GB

50,000

or

19

or

62,000

160 GB

40,000

or

12

or

40,000