I actually decided to get my stuff in order before I had surgery in May. I drafted and signed a proper will, and also filled out an "Instructions for Survivors" form, which is a detailed list of everything the people who survive you need to know, from a list of all your credit cards and insurance policies to the name of your vet, and a list of everyone who should be notified.
Doing this, while a pain, was a pretty useful exercise in making sure my own address book was up to date. Now that it's done, it will be relatively simple to update, and unlike your actual will, it doesn't need to be re-executed. It just accompanies your will, but IMO, anyone who lives on their own should do one of these, even if they don't have a will.
In the same manila file (my dad knows where it is) is a sealed letter to my fannish executor, asking her to do a few things (like transfer the mediafans domain name to wickedwords), post to LJ/DW, and let some people know. Also in the envelope is a USB thumb drive with a copy of the password management program I use (it's eWallet, I recommend), and instructions how to get the actual password file (it's stored online so it stays updated). So once she installed the program and downloaded the file, she will have all my passwords. I will probably have to update this every few years, as software and operating systems change, but the basics are done. In the letter to my actual executor, I included a line that says, "I've asked [fannish executor] to handle certain things for me. Please give her whatever help she asks for." Fortunately, none of this was needed for this particular surgery!
I will be thinking of you at VVC this week, Sandy! We'll miss you so much.
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Doing this, while a pain, was a pretty useful exercise in making sure my own address book was up to date. Now that it's done, it will be relatively simple to update, and unlike your actual will, it doesn't need to be re-executed. It just accompanies your will, but IMO, anyone who lives on their own should do one of these, even if they don't have a will.
In the same manila file (my dad knows where it is) is a sealed letter to my fannish executor, asking her to do a few things (like transfer the mediafans domain name to wickedwords), post to LJ/DW, and let some people know. Also in the envelope is a USB thumb drive with a copy of the password management program I use (it's eWallet, I recommend), and instructions how to get the actual password file (it's stored online so it stays updated). So once she installed the program and downloaded the file, she will have all my passwords. I will probably have to update this every few years, as software and operating systems change, but the basics are done. In the letter to my actual executor, I included a line that says, "I've asked [fannish executor] to handle certain things for me. Please give her whatever help she asks for." Fortunately, none of this was needed for this particular surgery!
I will be thinking of you at VVC this week, Sandy! We'll miss you so much.