Family
The documents to get from your parents this year
You need twelve things from your parents, and you need them while they are well: the legal documents that let you act, the location of the will, the account and policy list, and the digital access. The ask is easier than it sounds if it starts with "I did this for myself and I want you to have the same thing."
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How to ask
Not "what happens when you die." Try: "I set this up for myself last month so the kids would not have a mess. Can we do the same for you? It takes an afternoon." Bring your own list as the example. Do it in one sitting if you can, with their coffee, at their table.
Where it lives
Originals in a fireproof box or with the attorney; a scanned copy in the password manager as secure notes, shared with the sibling who holds power of attorney. Not in a safe deposit box only they can open.
Questions people ask
- What if they do not have a will?
- Most people over 70 without one can get a simple will done through a state bar referral or a reputable online service in an afternoon. The power of attorney and healthcare proxy are more urgent than the will.