The Essential Documents You Need Before and After You Die
The following list is by no means exhaustive but it will provide you with a checklist of the important documents you should have at hand before you die. This list and the accompanying documents will also expedite the process your loved ones will have to undertake after your death in order to settle your estate.
Documents & Data
🔲 Your Will — is it up to date? Does your executor know where it is? If it’s printed out, make sure the relevant parties know where to find it. If it’s on your computer, make sure you’ve left the password to your computer and indicated which folder it’s in and the name of the file (if it’s not obvious).
🔲 Your Funeral Plans — including instructions for disposal of your body — burial, cremation, scattering of ashes, other rituals or celebrations
🔲 Social Insurance Number or Social Security Cards — you may need this number when reporting the death to the government or when filling in official forms that require proof of identity.
🔲 Death Certificate — the funeral director will supply one; government services like Service Ontario or the Office of the Registrar will also supply a copy.
🔲 Marriage Certificates — similar to the above; local registry offices
🔲 Divorce or Separation Certificates (including evidence of Child Custody) — as above
🔲 Passports (Visas)
🔲 Car License and proof of Auto Insurance
🔲 Medical Insurance Card (OHIP and others)
🔲 List of Next of Kin and important family members and friends
🔲 List of passwords
🔲 List of social media accounts
🔲 Subscriptions and Memberships
🔲 Bank and other financial information including mortgage or other properties
🔲 Debit and Credit Cards
🔲 Store and Loyalty Cards
🔲 Life insurance policies and beneficiaries
🔲 Your Powers-of-Attorney For Health Care & For Finances/Property
🔲 List of bills and debts
🔲 Proof of ownership of important items/property
🔲 Proof of Pensions, Retirement income, annuities etc.
🔲 Business records/Tax forms (past 7 years)
🔲 Stocks, investment records
🔲 Business and Family/Friends Contact List
🔲 List of professionals: lawyer, accountant, estate agent, doctor, consultants, financial planner
🔲 CPP Death Benefit and any other Government benefit documents
Health Care
🔲 Advance Directive (Advance Care Plan)
🔲 POLST/MOLST Forms
🔲 Statement of Values and Beliefs Regarding Health Care and Treatment
🔲 DNR Consent Form
🔲 Organ Donation Form (in many places organ donation is often done through your driver’s licence application)
Possessions and Assets
🔲 List of valuable financial assets
🔲 List of valuable material assets
🔲 Jewellery and Artwork
🔲 Intellectual property, patents, copyrights, royalties
🔲 Specific instructions as to what is going to whom
🔲 Where to find important items such as deeds, car/house/other keys, appliance manuals, guarantees, etc.
Legacy
🔲 Journals/diaries/notebooks/valuable letters
🔲 Stories and other writings
🔲 Videos/audio tapes
🔲 Online Youtube/Vimeo channels + storage sites for photos/videos
🔲 Remembrance events
🔲 Music
🔲 Letters to particular individuals
Michael Williams is a practising End-of-Life Planning Facilitator who provides knowledge, resources, and support for folk who want to complete their end-of-life plans for themselves or their parents. He also provides training to Before I Go Solutions (beforeigosolutions.com), one of the U.K.’s leading End-of-Life Planning companies, and is the founder of the website myendoflifeplan.ca.
