re: What have you done to prepare for death?

My wife and I have everything all set up. Our kids will have all the info they need to access everything we are leaving behind. Accounts, life insurance, passwords, credit cards, IRA, social security, pension, burial plans and a current will with any special requests.
I know people, including us that struggled for weeks and months trying to figure out what the parent(s) had and where was it and how to access it. Mix that in a time of grief and it just makes for an even worse time. I won’t do that to my kids.

My life insurance will pay whats left of the mortgage and pay for my daughters college.

I want to be creamated. My wife doesn't like the idea of there not being a physical location for my remains.

I told her that Jesus returning will be a supernatural even and it won't matter what my physical form.

I’m still trying to convince my wife that she needs to give me a Viking funeral in the tank at the ranch but she’s been resistive. I personally think it’s because she sucks at shooting a bow and arrow and doesn’t want to embarrass herself.

I'm 83 so I guess I ought to start thinking about that... nah - tomorrow is another day.

- TOD = Transfer On Death deed if you own a home. Completing this document and filing it with your county saves your heirs THOUSANDS. This document allows you to transfer ownership of your home to your designee. All they need to do is take their ID and your death certificate to the county building and the deed is signed over. Doing this will avoid the home having to go through probate.
- Living Will: Allows one to put in writing exactly what you want done in the event you cannot speak for yourself when it comes to healthcare decisions
- Durable Power of Attorney: Allows one to designate a person to make legal decisions if one is no longer competent to do so.
- Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows one to designate someone to make healthcare decisions for their person.
- Last Will and Testament: Designates to whom personal belongings will go too.
- Funeral Planning Declaration: allows one to say exactly one’s wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services.
- If the above documents are done, you can AVOID probate. If all the above is not done, you have to open an estate account at the bank. All money that doesn’t have direct beneficiaries goes into this account. You have to have an attorney to open the estate account. The attorney also has to publicize your passing in the newspaper or post publication at the county courthouse, to allow anyone to make a claim on your property. - It’s a complete PAIN.
- Make a list of all banks and account numbers, all investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to how and when these things are paid. Make sure heirs knows where life insurance policies are located.
- Make 100% sure SOMEONE knows your Apple ID, bank ID account logins and passwords!
- Make sure you have titles for all vehicles, campers, etc!
- MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!! - Talk with those closest to you and make all your wishes KNOWN. Talk to those whom you’ve designated, as well as those close to you whom you did not designate. - Do this to explain why your decisions were made and to avoid any lingering questions or hurt feelings.
Hope this helps! Hope this lights a spark to encourage all your friends and family to take care of these things to make it easier for those we all leave behind!
My hope is that the above list at least helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones and an attorney that can help you complete all the necessary steps.

Got it all done. Only thing my kids have to do is choose pall bearers.
No life insurance needed. I’m self insured.

Owlie has been instructed to destroy my hard drives and cell phones.

I believe I’ve been a good enough person that my spirit will go to heaven. I’ve lived a good enough life to where when the good lord is ready for me, he will take me. I have no regrets. All my personal stuff is taken care off.

My wife and kids are taken care of via a good life insurance policy. Otherwise, haven’t given it a second thought.