The more specific the plan and the arrangements, the less stress family members will experience at the time. It is helpful to keep key personal, medical and financial information accessible.
Many people find it useful to collect relevant information in one master file.
It is also useful to collect names, addresses and phone numbers of professional advisors such as bankers, attorneys, clergy, stockbrokers and insurance agents. Also include in this category names and relevant dates of past employers, names and numbers of close friends, club memberships and landlord information. If you store important documents in a safe deposit box, make sure that someone close to you has a key to the box. Documents, such as original copies of wills, powers of attorney, advance medical directives, etc. would better be kept with an attorney or in another safe, but accessible place. Prepare a will and update it as your life circumstances change.