Template for Family for Follow-Up

Template for a Guidance Document to be set up by the Head Person as the Primary Guide for the Tasks the Family should do to tidy up the affairs after that Head Person is Gone.

Introduction:

     Here is a template that might be set up by one in order to help one's family with guidance on Tasks the Family Members have to do in order to tidy up the affairs of the estate after that person is gone.

     This template was merely a suggestion by the writer with no obligation or guarantee that it covers all or most situations. Individuals may have to set up a list of tasks with guidance from their attorneys and accountants and based on the customs and laws of their country, state, and locality. It is the belief of the writer that this template serves the residents of US. Residents of other countries may have to get a suitable template for their own circumstances, and locations. It will, however, be of great help if knowledgeable people develop templates suitable for specific locations and make them freely available. Even if the developers of templates charge a small charge for a template, it will be good business for the developers and highly beneficial for the families.

     I will be happy if the following Template enables and excites them to develop and post good and useful Templates for the said purpose.

     I will be happier if my small contribution is acknowledged.

Task List – “After Me”

     When one is gone, those left behind will have a number of tasks to do.

      Hence, it is best if seniors prepare a list, update it periodically, and leave it where the loved ones can access it, if and when needed. Keep this document in a secure place as there can be some level of confidential information in here. Here is a template to prepare such a list with information that is appropriate in your case.

      The details here are relevant to US residents and if you live in another country, such details have to be changed.

      Please note that this is not your will. You should state where they can find your will. You should check with an attorney if this template is right for your situation.

      The preparers and providers of this template neither assume any responsibility nor provide any warranties. The user should use their discretion and judgement in utilizing this guidance template.

      Best wishes to readers.

The Template

 Part 1:

Name: ________________________________

 

My will can be found in the security container at ­­­­­__________________(e.g. Bank/Institution name).

 

Many of my accounts are jointly held with my spouse and they can be accessed by the spouse.

 The spouse should transfer such accounts to her/his name as soon as possible after me.

 Here is what should be done immediately after I am gone? [1]

 o   Get a legal pronouncement of death from a doctor or hospice nurse or call 911.

o    Arrange for transportation of the body

o    Notify my doctor (name and phone number)   __________

       or the county coroner (Name and phone number)  _________________.

o    Notify close family and friends. (List attached)

Name ________________ can contact others.

o    Handle care of dependents and pets.

o   Call my employer ________________

o    Request info about benefits and any pay due to me. Ask whether there was a life-insurance policy through the employer/company.

o   Arrange for funeral and burial or cremation (Some steps are in the Table in Part 2 below.)

o   Details, if there is a prepaid burial plan or cremation plan? (Yes ----, No ---)

o   Prepare an Obituary (See my resume).

o   I do or do not belong to a group ­­­­____________, that would handle any ceremony?

o   Ask a friend or relative ____________ to keep an eye on the home, answer the phone, collect mail, throw food out (so that it does not rot in the refrigerator), and water plants.

o   Obtain death certificates from the funeral home.

o   Get official copies of death certificate from County or State office.

o   Make multiple copies of death certificate.

 

Part 2:

Notify the Following

Serial No.	Task	Organization	Phone	Address	web	Remarks
1	Legal Pronouncement of Death	Doctor (Name)				As applicable
2	Alternative to the above	Hospice				As applicable
3	Alternative to the above	Emergency	911			As applicable
4	Transport of Body	Funeral home
5	Notifying the County Coroner
6	Notifying friends	Location of the list (of Friends)
7	Inform Employer					Name of boss/colleague
8	Funeral/Cremation	Funeral home
9	Service	Temple/church
10	Prepare Obituary	Location for information				Resume or website
11	Safe keep home	Request Friends
12	Death certificate	Funeral home				Make 10-20 copies
13	Official Death Certificates	County or State

The following organizations have to be contacted as soon as possible, perhaps, with a Copy of the Death Certificate.

Serial Number	Organization	Reference Number	Phone	Web	Address	Remarks
1	Social Security Administration	My social security number	1-800-772-1213			Note 1
2	Employer or Former Employer					Note 2
3	Annuities					Note 3
4	Life Insurance Company	Insurance policy number				Note 4
5	Health Insurance	ID				Note 5
6	Dental Insurance	ID				Note 6
7	Vision Insurance	ID				Note 7
8	IRA 1					Note 8
9	IRA 2					Note 9
10	Roth IRA					Note 10
11	Joint Account 1					Note 11
12	Joint Account 2					Note 12

 Note 1: Social Security:

·         Social Security office (1-800-772-1213) should be informed.

o   This prevents the SS# from being used by ID thieves.

o   They (SSA) would recalculate (for retired people) social security benefits for the spouse.

o   Since social security is paid in advance, some amount may have to be refunded to Social Security; they will tell you how much.

o   Here is my SS # (­­­­­­___-__-____) {Keep this information secure.}

 Note 2: Pension:

Some government department, or a private company, or other organizations are sending my pension monthly. They should be informed. They will stop my pension and recalculate the pension for the spouse.

Here are the Contacts for Pension: 

Note 3: Annuities:

Here are the companies that I have annuities with. They should be informed.

 Provide details here:  ...

Note 4: Life Insurance:

Congratulations! You will get some life insurance amount if you have a policy.

Here are details.  ...

Note 5: Health Insurance:

I have the following health insurance for the family. They will recalculate for spouse only.

Note 6: Dental Health Benefits:

I have been paying for the family and they should be adjusted for the spouse and family only (without me) in the future.

Note 7: Vision Benefits:

I have been paying for the family and they should be adjusted for the spouse and family only (without me) in the future.

 Note 8: IRA: Is it set up as STIRPS?

It is not essential to take the whole amount in the IRA at once by the beneficiaries. The amount can be withdrawn over many years.

Of course, there is a Required Minimum amount to be withdrawn (RMD) each year.

Contact company for details.  ------

 (Note: if you have a 401K plan instead of an IRA) provide relevant details.

Note 9: Other IRAs:

Same as Note 8.

 Note 10: Roth IRA:

There is no minimum withdrawal requirement. There are no income taxes to be paid on amounts withdrawn from Roth IRA.

 Note 11: Change Joint Account(s) to individual Account(s)

 Account Numbers: -----

Note 12: Change Joint Accounts to Individual Accounts

Account Numbers: -----

Other Notifications

Serial No.	Organization	Address	Account Number			Remarks
1	Post Office		Home address
2	Gas company					Transfer name on account
3	Electricity	Supply company				Transfer name on account
4	City	…				Transfer name on account
5	Water, Sewer, Refuse	City or supplier				Transfer name on account
6	Driver License	DMV				Cancel
7	Vehicle Title	DMV				Change owner name
8	Home Deed	Attorney				Change owner name
9	Land	Attorney				Change owner name
10	Other	…

Assets (if any!)

Serial No.	Institution	Account No.	Phone no.	Web	Location	Remarks
A1	IRA 1					Note A1
A2	IRA2					Note A2
A3	Roth IRA					Note A3
A4	College 529					Note A4
A5	College 529					Note A5
A6	Home					Note A6
A7	Land					Note A7
A8	Joint Account 1					Note A8
A9	Stocks, Bonds, etc.					Note A9
A10	Security Container					Note A10
A11	Loans owed by others					Note A11
A12	Valuable collections					Note A12
A13	Life Insurance					Note A13

Note A1: IRA accounts

Note A2: Same as A1

Note A3: Details under accounts above

Note A4: College Savings Name and details

Note A5: College Savings Name and details

Note A6: Home: Address

Mortgage: Company name: etc. ...

Monthly amount to be paid: $ ....

Account Number: …

Phone number: …

Address:

Note A7: Land location (address):

Mortgage: Company

Monthly amount to be paid: $....

Account Number: …

Phone number: …

Address:

Note A8: Joint Account1: Bank Name

Note A9: Stocks, bonds, etc.: Name of company and details

Note A10: Security Container: Location

Note A11: Loans owed by others: Names and amount details (references)

Note A12: Valuable collections (Stamps, coins, gold, jewelry, rare manuscripts, etc.) Locations and details

Note A13: Life Insurance: Name: Beneficiary

Liabilities (Major)   (if any!)

Serial No.	Institution	Reference Number	Phone	Web	How paid	Remarks
1	Home Mortgage					NoteL1
2	Land Mortgage					NoteL2
3	Car Loan					NoteL3
4	Home Equity loan					NoteL4

L1: Mortgage on home: Company and details and location of papers

L2: Mortgage on Land: Company and details

L3: Loan or lease on Car(s): Company and details

L4: Home Equity Loan: Company and details

Other Loans: Company and details Account Numbers: ...

Liabilities/Monthly Bills to be paid

(Credit cards in my name should be cancelled and cards cut. Those in joint names should be transferred to spouse’s name only.)

Serial No.	Institution	What	Phone	Web	How paid	Date bill is due	Remarks
1	Visa1						NoteCC
2	Visa2						NoteCC
3	Amex						NoteCC
4	Mastercard						NoteCC
5	Macy’s						NoteCC
6	Discover						NoteCC
7	Store cards						NoteCC
8	…						NoteCC

NoteCC: Balances should be cleared monthly by the due date.

There should be another Template for how the other bills are paid (automatic deduction from bank account, credit card, check, cash, etc.)?

Taxes

S no.	Organization	Ref No.	Paid	To Pay	Reference	Remark
1	IRS					Note T1
2	State					Note T2
3	County/City					Note T3
4	Other					Note T4

Note T1: IRS: Federal Income tax: (How paid and when)

Note T2: State Income Tax: (How paid and when)

Note T3: County/City: Property Taxes: (How paid and when)

Note T4: Other.

Monthly or Periodic Bills

Serial No.	What	Institution	Phone	Web	How paid	Remarks
1	Gas					Note B1
2	Electricity					Note B2
3	Water, Sewer, Refuse/Garbage					Note B3
4	Newspaper					Note B4
5	Membership(s)					Note B5
6	Home Insurance					Note B6
7	Auto-Insurance					Note B7
8	Automobile Road Assistance					Note B8
9	Home Owners Association (HOA)					Note B9
10	Property Owners Association (POA)					Note B10
11	Lawn Mowing					Note B11
12	House Cleaner					Note B12
13	Cable					Note B13
14	Internet					Note B14
15	Home phone					Note B15
16	Home security					Note B16
17	Phone other					Note B17
18	Streaming TV					Note B18
19	Consumer Checkbook					Note B19
20	Consumer Reports					Note B20
21	Magazines					Note B21

Note B1 to B21: write guidance as applicable.

Indicate if any cancellations are to be done.

Inform if any changes should be made, in cases where they charge automatically to credit cards or bank accounts?

Note B1: Gas Bill:

Note B2: Electric Bill:

Note B3: Water, Sewer, Garbage Bill:

Note B4: Newspaper: (May be discontinued.)

Note B5: Memberships: (list)

Note B6: Home Insurance: Company, premium, date.

Note B7: Auto Insurance: Company, premium, date.

Umbrella Insurance:

Note B8: Company name:

Note B9: Home Owners Association, (HOA)

Note B10: Property Owner’s Association, (POA)

Note B11: Lawn mower, Monthly bill from

Note B12: House cleaner:

Note B13: Cable

Note B14: Internet

Note B15: Home phone

Note B16: Home security                                                   

Note B17: Phone other

Note B18: Streaming TV

Note B19: Consumer Checkbook                                   

Note B20: Consumer Reports

Note B21: Magazines (names & amounts)

Medical Bills

As we visit doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies, Insurance pays part of the charges, and we copay first and also pay balance to each doctor or provider of product or service.

 

S. No.	Name	Type of practice	Phone	Web	How paid	Remarks
1	…	Doctor
2	…
3	…
4	…
5	…
6	…
7	…
8	…	Dentist
9	…

Pharmacy

S. No.	Name	Type of practice	Phone	Web	How paid	Remarks
Online
Local shop

Call and cancel any refills for me or usually filled automatically by the pharmacy. 

Miscellaneous Items

Driver’s License: Cancel mine.

Yachts, Planes: If you have these items, then you are beyond this template; get your attorney’s help!

Vehicle Title: To be changed appropriately.

Vehicle Registration: To be changed appropriately.

Home Title: To be changed appropriately.

Land Title: To be changed appropriately.

Car Title: To be changed appropriately.

Vehicle Emissions test: Get it done when due & Pay by check or credit card.

Memberships: Cancel or pay when notice comes via email

Sports club memberships:

Auto Roadside Assistance: When notice comes by mail or via email.

Cable, etc.: TV, Internet, Digital Voice package

Set top box and wireless router to be returned or name changed.

Other TV: (e.g. IPTV, Yupptv,  Streaming Media)

My Domain Name: Should it be canceled, or kept up for some more years?

My Website annual hosting fee: Should it be canceled, or kept up for some more years?

Email ID: Cancel?

Wholesale Club Membership: Fee and what to do?

- Is there Reward cash amount and when does it come?

Contracts for maintenance services: Names and instructions

Home Owners Association Membership: optional ($ ...   ) Paid by check or online

Checkbook, Consumer Choice: Optional; paid by check

Magazine Subscriptions: Optional; paid by check

Whom to call list for repairs to Items, Devices, and Systems in the Home

Serial No.	What for	Company	Phone	Web	…	Remarks
1	Furnace
2	Air Conditioning
3	Refrigerator
4	Dishwasher
5	Clothes Washer
6	Garbage Disposer
7	Handyman
8	Home Security
9	Gas Problem
10	Electricity
11	Cable TV
12	Medical
13	Lawn/Yard/Snow
14	Home Cleaning
15	Neighbors
16	Taxi
17	…

Websites & Email Accounts

Serial No.	Type	Organization name	Address	Account Number	Contact Info	Remarks
1	Name
2	Email Account
3	Gmail
4	Yahoo
5	…

If you get most billing information via your email account, it is very important that you provide the email address(es) used for each account, password, and the contact information. Such information should be secure. 

Passwords: Location of secret documents and information.

Online Accounts

Serial No.	Type of Account	Organization	Address	Account Number	Contact Info	Remarks
1	…
2	Gmail
3	Yahoo
4
5

  Passwords: Should be provided via a secret location for security reasons. 

Organizations (Volunteer or Professional or other) 

Serial No.	Organization Name	Address	Reference Number	Web	Phone	Remarks
1
2
3
4
5

Friends: Location ____________ of list with contact information

Relatives: Location ___________ of list with contact information.

---....---

[1] The list is put together with information from the following sources. 

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2012/10/what-to-do-when-a-loved-one-dies/index.htm

http://www.ehow.com/list_6053962_organizations-notify-after-death.html

http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/will-your-heirs-get-slammed-with-your-outstanding-debt-when-you-die/ar-AAicWXd?li=BBmkt5R

Please note that in this Template, the writers used the word 'you' that refers to the person preparing the document as well as the the person (possibly, Spouse) receiving instructions and details based on the context.

Alert: You may have to revise this document periodically to update it! Long live!

Comments are welcome so that I can update this Template.

- End of Document -