Planning for your later life helps to make sure your wishes are respected and honoured when the time comes. Doing this can also make things easier for your loved ones during a sensitive time. From making all the decisions on your funeral arrangements to having it paid and taken care of, whatever you have in place will be a welcome relief for family or friends.
Golden Charter can help with planning for your funeral, but one thing which you can do by yourself is to gather all of your important information which will be needed after your passing.
It has been known as a 'Death Dossier', a 'Life Book', or simply a 'Rest in Peace Folder'. No matter what name it has been given the purpose remains the same, keeping important information and documents in one place to prevent the need to hunt for them. At its most simple, the only thing you need to do is keep all your important information in one place. The use of a safe or fireproof box is safer and more secure but a regular folder or envelope stored in a safe place is also ok.
A crucial part is letting people close to you know where you have stored your information. There's not much point in taking the time to organise your affairs if people don't know where to get it during a time of need.
In addition to keeping your documents in one place, it's also handy to keep a sheet of personal information which may be needed when contacting departments or companies such as:
- Full name
- Birth certificate
- National Insurance number
- Bank accounts
- Certificate of marriage or civil partnership
- GP details
- Solicitor's Contact Info
- Employer payroll number
- Utility Bills or Company Contact Info
Having access to your legal documents is extremely important for your executors. It's usual to keep copies and store the originals securely with a solicitor. One of the most important documents for your family to have is your life insurance policy so that any claims can be processed as quickly and smoothly as possible. It can also be helpful to have details for any other insurance policies you have like, home, car and medical, as this will make it easier for them to be amended or cancelled.
The surviving spouses will need information about pensions, as well as marriage licenses as they can be required to prove entitlement - divorce settlements can be equally useful.
Documents which prove ownership for properties, cars, stocks and shares, and even Premium Bonds are also very important. Families might not always know about everything owned by an individual, and if they are unaware of your passing the assets go unclaimed.
Last but not least, it's good to make sure you include your funeral plan details. If you are a Golden Charter plan holder, you will receive a membership pack which contains contact details for your chosen funeral director. Having these items easily accessible in your folder will help your family contact your funeral director so they can begin the arrangements for your chosen funeral.
It's worthwhile checking through your information folder once every year or so to update or add to it. This is also a good opportunity to get rid of any outdated or no longer relevant information you have. As time goes on, certain elements of your life will change and having all of your information up-to-date can make all the difference when it comes to settling your affairs after you pass away.
The process of gathering all of the information which your family and friends need may take you some time but this act could save them upset during a difficult time when you are gone.
Planning for your funeral is part of being ready for your end of life. Find out more about how you can plan for your funeral with Golden Charter. Request a free, no obligation information pack below or call 0808 169 4534.
