How to make your survivors remember you well? Die organized!

Perhaps one of the kindest things you can do for your survivors (family members, beneficiaries, and heirs) is to have your financial matters organized so they can ascertain what you owned and where the assets are located.

Here are some excerpts from Suzanne Barlyn, The Mess They Left, Wall St. J., April 13, 2009:

Surviving family members can get overwhelmed when loved ones leave behind disorganized financial statements and cluttered homes. Heirs and executors must become de facto investigators, sorting through the junk to figure out where the assets are — and what should be done with them.

Prevention is, of course, the best solution, such as asking blunt questions about where wills and other important papers are located. Many people, however, avoid the subject or die unexpectedly, leaving survivors with the burden of chaos. * * *

Here are some of the topics discussed in detail in the article:

• Finding a suitable location to store your will.
• Maintaining financial records.
• Dealing with tangible personal property.
• Paying debts.
• Making sure all taxes (especially income taxes) are paid.

Special thanks to Patrick S. Sylvester (Attorney & Counselor at Law, Sylvester Law Firm, PC) for bringing this article to my attention.