Expert Advice Tip Sheet -- Estate Organizing Checklist -- OnlineOrganizing.com

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	Estate Organizing Checklist

	By Ramona Creel

Feel free to use this tip sheet / checklist as you tackle your own ""do-it-yourself"" organizing projects. If you would like to REPRINT or DISTRIBUTE this information, please click here for reprinting instructions.

CONTACT INFORMATION

lawyer and executor of your will
accountant, CPA, and bookkeeper
stock broker, investment counselor, and financial advisor
insurance agents (life, home, auto, etc.)
business associates and partners
family, friends, and colleagues

DOCUMENT LOCATOR

legal (wills, powers of attorney, trust documents, safe deposit box)
family (birth, adoption, guardianship, citizenship, marriage, divorce)
banking (loans, list of accounts, statements, cancelled checks, passbooks)
investments (CD, securities, stocks, bonds, retirement, annuities)
business (incorporation papers, contracts, agreements, computer back-up)
deeds and titles (title insurance, property, home inventory, vehicles)
insurance (life, death benefits, property, health, homeowners, auto)
military (service records, discharge, pension)
ID (passport, driver's license, social security card)
income tax records

PLANNING IN ADVANCE

Have you outlined your funeral arrangements and burial plans?
Have you purchased a cemetery plot?
Have you purchased a pre-paid funeral or cremation plan?
Have you selected the music, prayers, and readings for your service?
Have you made it known what you don't want to happen at your service?
i.e. religious prayers, open casket viewing, etc.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR LOVED ONES

Have you set up guardianship papers for your children?
Do you know how much money your family needs to replace your income?
Do you have adequate current life insurance to cover your family's needs?
Do you have enough money specifically set aside to pay the cost of dying?
including inheritance taxes, executor, and probate fees
Do you have money set aside or LTC insurance for long-term medical costs?
Do you have beneficiaries for your accounts, investments, and insurance?

TAXES

Have you set up a trust to protect your assets from undue taxation?
Do you know how much inheritance tax will be due on your assets?
Do you know how much it will cost to have your will probated?
Have you left assets to your spouse which can be received tax-free?
Have you begun gifting tax-free money to your children prior to your death?
Are you planning to make a charitable gift as part of your estate plan?

YOUR WISHES

Do you have a current, up-to-date, signed will?
Do you have a financial power of attorney set up?
Do you have a living will and medical power of attorney?
Do you have a current signed organ donor card?
Have you given copies of these documents to your executor and attorney?
Have you clearly outlined how you want your possessions distributed?
Have you labeled any items you want to go to specific people?

Copyright 2000-2009 Ramona Creel -- you are welcome to reprint any article, but you MUST include this resource box and a link to www.RamonaCreel.com.

Ramona Creel is Professional Organizer, NAPO Golden Circle Member, and the original founder of OnlineOrganizing. A former Social Worker, she has always enjoyed helping people find the resources and solutions they need to improve their lives. Ramona now travels the country as a full-time RVer, sharing her story of simplicity with everyone she meets. She leads by example -- having worked for more than 10 years as a Professional Organizer, and having radically downsized and simplified her own life as a full-time RVer. Ramona now considers herself a "Renaissance Woman" -- bringing all of her passions together into one satisfying career. As a "Virtual Organizer", she can create a customized organizing plan for your home or office. As a "Simplicity and Accountability Coach ", Ramona provides a proven program for making every area of your life a little bit easier -- perfect for those who want to make the time and space to focus on their true priorities. As a Professional Photographer, Ramona captures powerful images of places and people as she travels. And as a freelance writer and blogger, she shares organizing techniques, travel tips, and social commentary with others. You can see all these sides of Ramona -- read her articles, browse through her photographs, and even hire her to help get your life in order -- at www.RamonaCreel.com. You can also follow her on Twitter, check out her Facebook profile, and subscribe to her blog feeds.

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