Family Preparedness Checklist
Employee Checklist
We recommend that you assemble, list and date the information noted below to ease the burden on your family in the
event that you sustain a severe or fatal injury.

A description of your wishes for the final disposition of your body including the names and addresses of the
recipients of your body, organs or tissues.

Your expected death benefits including the names of beneficiaries and policy numbers, if applicable. Examples
of such benefits include the social security death benefit, the Veteran's Administration reimbursement for
funeral and cemetery costs (you should retain a photocopy of your discharge papers to assist with your
survivors’ claim), lump sum payment or cancellation payments on a pension, credit union, life insurance.

Insurance policies including policy numbers (e.g., fire, automobile, accident, and liability policies) and dates on
which premiums are due.

Safe deposit boxes, strong boxes, safes, including their locations, combinations and/or the location of keys.

All important papers stored in your safe deposit box.

Important documents, valuable items not kept in safe deposit box, with their locations. For example, insurance
policies, auto title slips, bank books, wills, trusts, federal and state income tax returns, birth, marriage and
divorce certificates, discharge papers, jewelry and other notable valuables.

Active credit cards and charge accounts including account numbers, payment and expiration dates.

Bank, credit union, and stock brokerage/ 401K accounts including account numbers and passwords.

Outstanding mortgages and other outstanding loans including account numbers, payment dates and terms.

Securities, real and personal property you own.

Names and addresses of your lawyer, accountant and executor of your estate.

Complete a will and note of location of the original.

Names of individuals you wish to have notified of your death or injury.

Organizations, boards or committees to which you belong.

Recurrent monthly bills including account numbers, payment and expiration dates.

Details of care and transfer of ownership of your pets.
Note: the Family Checklist should be attached to this checklist
Family Preparedness Checklist
Family Checklist
Many, if not all, of these tasks may have to be completed after the death of a loved one.

Consult decedent’s written directions for funeral arrangements and disposition.

Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate for life insurance policies and similar benefits (10-15 copies).

Notify medical school, New Organ Transplant Bank, or similar organizations if arrangements have been made for
donation of tissue, organs, or body.

Determine the time and place of funeral ceremony or memorial service, if any, in consultation with clergyman,
reader, or other appropriate persons. Notify musicians, pallbearers, or others who may participate in the
ceremony (Family Liaison may assist).

Notify family members, close friends and employer included on the decedent’s Family Preparedness Checklist

Notify lawyer, accountant, and executor of the estate.

Decide whether memorial gifts are to replace flowers. If so, include newspaper notice.

Prepare newspaper notice if desired. The paper is likely to require full name, age, place of birth and death,
occupation, degrees, memberships, military service, outstanding work, survivors in immediate family, time and
place of services, if any.

Keep list of calls, flowers, notes, and arrange for acknowledgment.

Make needed household arrangements, as for child care or hospitality for visiting relatives.

Notify all life insurance companies affected, Social Security Office and Veterans' Administration if eligible for
benefits. (You may receive assistance from the funeral director with these notifications.)

Check for other death benefits, as from group insurance policies, credit union accounts, pensions, etc.

(BMF Human Resources may assist)

Notify credit card companies and stores where deceased had charge accounts.

Check for all installment payments coming due on merchandise, loans, or mortgages.

Notify Post Office of forwarding address to relative or executor.

Notify lodges, fraternities and other organizations of which the decedent was a member, and the schools and
church that he/she attended.

Also notify banks, credit unions or stockbrokers where decedent had accounts.

Seek advice of accountant about filing decedent’s tax return for year of death.
Important Names, Addresses, and Phone Numbers
List the important names, addresses, phone numbers, and account or policy numbers that may help survivors
in dealing with your affairs. Be sure to list an entry for each person or place noted on Your Checklist of
Important Documents.
Location
Attorney - Medical
(Health Care Proxy)
Attorney - Financial
Auto Loan
Bank A
Bank B
Bank C
Credit Card
Credit Card
Credit Card
Mortgage
Other Credit /Loan
Name
Address
Phone / Fax
Account / Policy
Number
Other Credit /Loan
Credit Union
Current File
Cabinets
Permanent Records
(Locations)
Lawyer’s Office
Safety Deposit Box
Stock Broker /
Financial Advisor
Individual
Possessions
(attached separate
sheet)
Relative A
Relative B
Relative C
Friend A
Friend B
Primary Care
Physician
Dentist
Executor / Executrix
Funeral Home
Insurance Agent A
Type:
Insurance Agent B
Type:
Insurance Agent C
Type:
Location Checklist of Important Documents
Document
Recommended
Location Code
Appraisals of Personal
Possessions
1
Appraisals of Real Property
1
Automobile Title
1
Automobile Registration
9 (Car)
Bank Statements—Current
Year
2
Bank Statements—Last 3
Years
2
Birth Certificates/Adoption
Papers
1
Burial Plot Papers
1
Charge Account Records
1
Location
of Original
Location
Code of Copy(s)
Checkbook Records, Including
Canceled Checks (for 3 years)
2
Credit Card Statements (for 3
years)
2
Debt Contracts (until
expiration);
Payment in Full Notices (for
life)
1
Deeds—Current
Property/Closing Statements
1
Deeds—Sold Property
2
Divorce Papers
1
Durable Power of Attorney
Original – 1, Copies – 3,
10, 11
Educational
Records/Diplomas/Transcripts
2
Employment
Papers/Information
2
Funeral Plans
Original – 2, Copy - 11
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Original – 1, Copies – 5,
7,10,11
Household Inventory
List/Video
1
Insurance Papers—Medical
2
Insurance Papers—Long-term
Care
2
Insurance Papers—
Home/Property
2
Insurance Papers—
Automotive
2
Insurance Papers—Liability
(Umbrella Policy)
2
Insurance Papers—Life
2
Insurance Papers—Disability
2
Investment Records—Bonds
Original – 4 or 1
Investment Records—Stocks
Original – 4 or 1
Investment Records—Others
2
Letter of Last Instructions
List of Medications
Living Will
Marriage Certificates
Original – 2, Copies – 6,
11
5
Original – 1, Copies – 2,
3, 7
1
Medical Records
7
Military/Discharge Papers
1
Naturalization or Residency
Papers
1
Passport
1
Power of Attorney
Original – 1, Copies – 2,
3, 11
Prenuptial Agreements
1
Religious Records
2
Retirement/Pension Records
2
Safety Deposit Box Location
2
Safety Deposit Box Key
Social Security Card
Original – 1, Copy – 11
Original 1, Copy – 10
Tax Returns & Supporting
Documents — Current Year
2
Tax Returns & Supporting
Documents Previous 3 Years
2
Tax Returns & Supporting
Documents – 3–6 Years Old
2
Trust Documents
Original – 1, Copy – 2, 3,
9(trustee)
Warranties, Guarantees
Wills
1
Original – 1, Copies – 2,
3, 11
Location Code List
1 - Bank Safety Deposit Box
2 - Home File Cabinet (preferably fireproof)
3 - Lawyer’s Office
4 - Broker/Bank
5 - Carry With You at All Times
6 - Relatives/Friends
7 - Primary Doctor’s Office
8 - Funeral Home
9 - Other
10 - Portable Fireproof Box
11 - Executor/Executrix or Attorney-In-Fact