Dad might know every password, remember which bank holds the savings, and keep the insurance agent’s number in his head. Unfortunately, none of that knowledge automatically transfers to his family when he dies. Suddenly, ordinary questions about the mortgage, retirement accounts, unpaid bills, and even the family photos on his computer become surprisingly difficult to answer.
The problem often starts long before anyone needs an attorney. Families simply assume somebody knows where the paperwork lives. Then a folder turns up without its matching account statement, a phone demands a passcode, and nobody remembers the name of Dad’s financial adviser. Ten small preparations can prevent a painful time from becoming an exhausting scavenger hunt.
