Caretaker & Survivor Reports

This is the seventh part of a multi part series on preparing for retirement and basic estate planning for federal employees and annuitants. If you missed the last six installments I suggest reviewing them to understand the estate planning binder concept. Sections 3 and 4 of the "Survivor’s Instruction and Guide" binder holds the valuable information your spouse and or executor of your estate will need to settle things.

I used two software programs to capture this data. First, Quicken WillMaker Plus generates instructions for "Caregivers and Survivors" when you complete your wills and trusts. I include this report in Part 3 of the binder. Behind this report I keep copies of all insurance policies and security "Designated Beneficiary" forms that I completed and submitted to the various companies when I completed my plan including the TSP and pension forms. I also keep the Living Trust security registrations here as well. The Quicken WillMaker Plus report along with the copies of designated beneficiary forms may be all that you need for your estate plan binder for sections 3 and 4. I also use Quicken Premier's excellent "Emergency Records Organizer" data sheets located under Property and Debt on the top bar menu.

Reports

 

• Emergency
• Caretaker
• Survivor
• Records Summary
• Detail

I could have only used the WillMaker Plus reports, however, I compiled much of this data on Quicken years before I purchased Quicken WillMaker Plus and already had these reports generated when I completed my estate plan. I keep the Quicken reports in Section 4 of the Survivor Binder. You don’t need either of these programs to compile this data. The software programs are helpful because they ask you for all of the key data that your spouse and/or executor will need and they are very easy to update as changes occur. You don’t have to worry about missing key items because these programs prompt you for the information. All that matters is that you capture the critical data that your spouse or executor will need when the time comes.

The Quicken WillMaker Plus "Caregivers and Survivors" instruction sheets include the following data:

• Part 1 - Personal Information
  Name, DOB, SSN, birth certificate location, place of birth, marriage information, former marriages, family members, military records, medical information
• Part 2 - Medical Information
  Primary care physician, other health care providers, medical insurance policy, health care directive, people aware of your health care wishes
• Part 3 - People to Notify
  Address book, electronic address information, executors. Successor trustees, guardian of my child or children, other people to notify upon my death or incapacity
• Part 4 - Professional Advisors
  Accountant, attorney, stock broker, financial advisor, etc.
• Part 5 - Important Documents
  Will, living trust, final arrangements, disability and life insurance policies, long term care policy, birth certificate, military records, marriage certificate, tax records, other documents
• Part 6 - Security Places and Passwords
  Secured places (safes and safety deposit boxes), alarm systems, passwords and combinations
• Part 7 - Real Estate
  Residence detailed information including purchase price, date, mortgage information, homeowners’ insurance
• Part 8 - Business Interests
  Name, type of entity, value, etc.
• Part 9 - Vehicles
  Automobiles/Boats/Planes/ATVs/RVs etc. Complete info including VIN numbers , cost, loan information, license number, insurance, etc.
• Part 10 - Other Property and Insurance
  Complete description of other property including collectables, coins, stamps, etc.
• Part 11 - Finances
  Durable Power of Attorney for Finances, sources of income, Social Security number, amount of monthly Social Security check, IRAs, TSP Thrift, retirement, dividends, interest, securities, brokerage account, stocks, bonds, , ATM/Debit Card, Money owed to you, etc.

Explore NOLO's complete estate planning package.  

Go to Part 8 - Financial Reports
Go back to Part 6 - Estate Planning Checklist
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