Preparing Family for Passing: Beneficiaries, Documents, Last Wishes
In part one of this two-part blog series, we discussed a few of the elements you should be strongly considering as you look to prepare your family in case of the unfortunate event of your passing. While no one loves to think about this possibility, the fact is that some basic preparations here can put your family in a much simpler, easier position if and when the day comes.
At McDougal Funeral Home, we offer a number of ways to prepare your family for your eventual passing, from advanced funeral arrangements to several other areas that will take some stress and pain off the plate of your family if you do pass away anytime in the future. While part one of our series discussed themes like your will, insurance and funeral plans, today's part two will go over some additional areas to consider here.
Confirm Proper Beneficiaries
Whether we're talking about life insurance policies, investment accounts like 401ks or IRAs or even just your personal checking and savings accounts, it's critical that you regularly review the beneficiary designations on all of these accounts. If you pass away and have not updated these designations in some time, your family may have a much harder time accessing the money in these accounts.
Similarly, if you have young children, you'll want to make sure that the guardianship designations on your accounts are still accurate and up-to-date. You may have initially listed a family member as the guardian of your children who has since passed away or is otherwise unable to take on this responsibility.
Arrange Documents and Possessions
We already went over your will in part one of this series, but that's just one of several important documents your family will need in the event of your passing. You should also have a list of all of your important accounts, passwords and pin numbers stored in a safe, secure place that your family can easily access. This will make it much simpler for them to deal with your affairs after you're gone.
In addition to important documents, you should also take some time to go through your possessions and determine what you would like to leave to specific family members or friends. This can be anything from jewelry and heirlooms to furniture or other larger items.
Funeral and Other Last Wish Instructions
Finally, you should sit down with your family and discuss your last wishes in detail. This includes everything from your funeral service to what you would like done with your remains. By having this conversation now, you can take some of the burden off of your loved ones when the time comes.
No one likes to think about their own passing, but taking a few simple steps now can make a world of difference for your family down the road. If you have any questions about preparing for your passing or would like to learn more about our funeral services, please don't hesitate to contact us at McDougal Funeral Home at your nearest convenience.
