Home >> Ministries >> Life Planning Ministries >> Getting Your Affairs Organized
Getting Your Affairs Organized
Only God knows the day of our calling to heaven... Regardless of your age, collecting and organizing your important papers and information is a smart idea. Here's what you should know to make your life, and that of your loved ones, more secure.
Get It Together
Step one is to gather your important personal, financial and legal information and arrange it in a format that will benefit your caregivers, survivors and even yourself. Here are key areas to help you get started.
Personal Information
- Contact List: Start with a master list of names and phone numbers of family members, close friends, pastor, doctor(s), and professional advisers such as your lawyer, tax accountant, broker and insurance agent.
- Legal Documents: Birth certificate, Social Security number, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc.
- Secured Places: List all the places you keep under lock and key (or protected by password), safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc.
- Service Providers: Provide contact information of the companies or people who provide you regular services such as utility companies, lawn service, etc.
- Pets: If you have a pet, give instructions for the care of the animal.
- Organ Donation: Indicate your wishes for organ, tissue or body donation including documentation (see www.donatelife.net).
- Funeral Instructions: Write out your final wishes. If you've made pre-arrangements with a funeral home, provide their contact information, indicate if you've prepaid or not, and include a copy of the agreement. Pastor Marlin Harris, Pastoral Cares, can meet with you to answer questions about appropriate arrangements for a Christian service.
Legal Documents
- Wills and Trusts: You will need to make sure your family has easy access to an original copy of your will (not a photo copy) and other estate planning documents you've made, including trusts. BuildaWill.com is a good do-it-yourself resource for creating a simple will and costs only $20. Don't leave your survivors in the hands of the government, which will impose their laws if you don't have will!
- Financial Power of Attorney: This is the legal document that names someone you trust to handle money matters if you're incapacitated. Power of Attorney forms are available outside the Life Planning Ministries office, lower level (children's ministries hallway).
- Advance Directives: These legal documents spell out your wishes regarding medical treatment when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. Minnesota-specific legal directive forms are available from the rack outside the Life Planning Ministries office.
Financial Records
- Income and Debt: Make a list of all your income sources such as pensions, Social Security, IRAs, 401Ks, interest, investments, etc. And do the same for any debt you may have - mortgage, credit cards, medical bills, car payment, etc. If you are handling payments online, be sure to have your accounts and passwords accessible.
- Financial Accounts: List all your bank and brokerage accounts (checking, savings, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, IRAs, etc.) including their location and contact information. And keep current statements from each institution in your files.
- Pensions and Benefits: List any retirement plans, pensions or benefits from your current or former employer including the contact information of the benefits administrator.
- Government Benefits: Information about Social Security, Medicare or other government benefits you're receiving.
- Insurance: List the insurance policies you own (life, health, long-term care, home, and car) including the policy numbers and agents' names and phone numbers.
- Credit Cards: List all your credit and charge cards, including the card numbers and contact information.
- Taxes: Keep copies of your income tax returns over the last three years and the contact information of your tax preparer if you use one.
- Property: List real estate, vehicles and other personal properties you own, rent or lease and include important documents such as deeds, titles, and loan or lease agreements.
Keep all your organized information and files together in one convenient location — ideally in a fireproof filing cabinet or safe in your home. Review and update your information every year, and don't forget to tell your loved ones where they can find it.
Still not sure how to start? WLC Life Planning Ministries can help! If you would like to review how prepared you and your family are, need someone to encourage you and pray with you while you make your preparations, or would like advice on financial matters by a consultant who does not have a financial stake in the estate, contact Vicki Strong, Director of Life Planning Ministries, 651-739-5144. We are also in the process of preparing a checklist of important information to make your preparations even easier. And if you don't see an answer to your concerns here, contact us. We are here to make today and tomorrow more secure for you and your family.