While death is a topic that most of us would like to avoid, putting things in order before your death will take a huge weight off of your loved ones. Here are three things you should do in preparation for your death.
It’s understandable why most people don’t like to discuss death. Even though this is something inevitable, most of us would like to not think about it and put off anything remotely related to it. Death can be a morbid subject for some, but the fact that we will all face death eventually means that we should all prepare for it, especially since we have no way of knowing when it will happen.
Most lists on what you should do before you die involve traveling the world, skydiving or swimming with a dolphin. But aside from all these fun bucket list items, you should not forget about the sensible and practical things you need to put in order before your death. These steps will provide guidance for your family and friends, and most of all, make the process easier for them.
According to Forbes Magazine, nearly 2.5 million Americans die each year, most of which haven’t done any preparation for their death. The grief caused by death is already hard enough, and the only way you can make it easier for your loved ones to process it is by putting things in order so that they don’t have to. Here are some ways you can prepare for your death.
Write your last will and testament
Your last will and testament is the document that pronounces what happens to your properties and the guardianship of your children after you die. Even if you don’t have many assets, don’t think that you don’t need a last will and testament. If you have specific plans for a pet or wish to give your life savings to a chosen charity, this is a document that will formalize your final wishes. In this digital age, you can also indicate what you want to do with your online and social media accounts which may contain sensitive information.
Help your loved ones with funeral planning
Death comes with a price tag and year after year, the price significantly increases. According to a 2018 report from National Funeral Directors Association, the national median cost of a funeral with viewing and cremation is now $6,260. The good news is that there are ways to assist your loved ones with this huge expense even after you have passed on. Insurance companies are selling final expense insurance to help you prepare for the financial weight that your loved ones will face after your passing. Aside from the expenses, you can also write out what you want to happen at your wake and how your funeral is handled which will save your relatives from thinking about what you would have wanted.
Organize your records
Organizing every personal record before your death will save your loved ones from some of the difficulty that comes with searching and trying to figure out where you keep your important files. It is recommended to create an in-case-of-emergency master file that includes your birth certificate, marriage certificate, social security numbers, financial assets, and your last will. Keep everything in a folder together and whether you prefer physical copies or digital files, make sure that they are secured. Lastly, let a trusted family member or friend know where the master file is kept.
Death is not something you should constantly think or worry about and there is absolutely no need to plan every little detail. But it is something you should spend time and effort to prepare for especially because there is no way of knowing when it will come. Putting a few things in order will take a huge weight off your relatives and will give them more time to grieve and process your death.