Today, I’m giving you another look at the practical content of my new book, A Boomer’s Guide to Cleaning Out Your Parents’ Estate in 30 Days or Less. This book is a carry-along guide, full of practical checklists and worksheets, and so much wisdom from my 20 years of experience in this field. Click on the link to the right of this blog entry to get your own copy. Buy one for each of your siblings too!
LOCATING CRITICAL PAPERWORK
Ideally, you have gotten all paperwork organized and accounted for, but in so many situations, this is not the case. What follows is a list of what needs to be accumulated in order to best deal with your parents’ estate:
- Will
- Power of Attorney
- Investment statements
- Life Insurance policies
- Automobile insurance
- Safe combination
- Credit card information
- Computer passwords
- Address book
- Real estate documents
- see my book for 12 more items you will need to have ready…
Knowing all the people who may have assisted your parents with the above paperwork may help you locate it.
- Banker
- In-home care professional
- Accountant
- Financial Planner
- Doctor
- there are 5 more people listed in my book…
Important papers are often stashed in unusual places. Consider these locations when going through the home in search of paperwork and important documents.
- Under or in mattresses
- Books or Family Bible
- Above cabinets, cornices
- Closets – unmarked boxes
- Luggage compartments
- Behind or in picture frames
- Bottom of dresser drawers
- there’s many more places to search listed in my book…
How to empty the family home without losing your mind! That’s a concept that every Boomer should value, and this book gives you all you need! Since it begins with a section on “One or Both Parents are Living and Still in Their Home”, you’ll be able to use this guide immediately and keep using it until you actually have to clean out the home.
© 2010 Julie Hall