Family Records Organizer
Family Records Organizer:
Creating A Well-Ordered Life
Keeping important documents and financial records organized and readily available is one of the best
gifts you can give those you love. In the event of a catastrophe or serious illness, disability or death,
your Family Records Organizer will immediately provide vital, timely information to both your family
and professional advisors.
Our process assembles your clear letters of instruction to key individuals, personal information, important
contacts and essential documents in one place. Your Financial Advisor will take you through a brief but
thorough process, consisting of the following five steps:
1. Fill out the personal information and contact section.
2.Follow the Letters of Instruction Guidelines.
3.Indicate the location of original documents listed on the document locator.
4.Build out your Family Records Organizer.
5.Review this information periodically to be sure it is up to date.
At Morgan Stanley, we look at the full picture of your retirement. That means every plan encompasses
all the pieces of your financial life and makes sure they work together to provide and protect the
resources you have worked hard to build.
This Document Was Last Updated On
signature
date
Personal Information
Primary Person
date
name
occupation
date of birth
citizenship
education
primary residence
home phone
home fax
work phone
work fax
email
Spouse/Significant Other
name
occupation
date of birth
citizenship
education
work phone
work fax
email
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Information
Children/Dependents
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
name
date of birth
contact number
Grandchildren
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Information
Grandchildren (continued)
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
name
date of birth
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Information
Other (Extended Family/Friends, Emergency Contacts)
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
name
date of birth
contact number
relationship
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Letter of Instruction Guidelines
Take the time to draft clear instructions to ensure your loved ones have adequate guidance. Making essential decisions and crafting
plans may be even more difficult to address under stressful circumstances.
How would you like the following documents handled?
01 People to Notify
02 Immediate Cash Needs
03 Funeral Arrangements
04 Other (Business Arrangements, Heirlooms, Real Estate, Insurance Proceeds)
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
name
date
Personal Advisors
financial advisor
email
phone number
attorney
email
phone number
accountant
email
phone number
primary physician
email
phone number
insurance representative
email
phone number
Please indicate the location of the following items.
Personal Documents
original will or living trust documents (self) dated
last updated
original will or living trust documents (spouse /partner) dated
last updated
special estate instructions—written
last updated
special estate instructions—video
last updated
trust documents
last updated
power of attorney
last updated
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Personal Documents (continued)
birth certificate
last updated
health care directive
last updated
marriage certificate
last updated
citizenship papers
last updated
military records
last updated
social security card
last updated
health info (vaccinations, hospitalizations)
last updated
marriage agreements (pre- or postnuptial)
last updated
divorce papers
last updated
funeral arrangements and burial information
last updated
living will
last updated
cemetery plot deed
last updated
document appointing children’s guardian
last updated
education records
last updated
employment records
last updated
list of professional & fraternal organization memberships
last updated
passport
last updated
pet registration & records
last updated
other, e.g., adoption papers
last updated
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Business/Professional
partnership/llc documents
last updated
corporate documents
last updated
inventory of business assets
last updated
buy/sell documents
last updated
other employee retirement benefits (e.g., nonqualified deferred compensation)
last updated
Tax Returns & Records
income tax returns (last 3 years)
last updated
records re: tax basis of property
last updated
gift tax returns
last updated
Insurance Policies
health/medical
company
policy
last updated
life insurance—individual(s)
company
policy
last updated
life insurance—survivorship
company
policy
last updated
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Insurance Policies (continued)
life insurance—group
company
policy
last updated
long-term care
company
policy
last updated
property/casualty
company
policy
last updated
disability
company
policy
last updated
dental
company
policy
last updated
automobile
company
policy
last updated
Financial Papers
checking accounts
last updated
credit card accounts
last updated
savings accounts
last updated
mortgage /leases
last updated
retirement plans (iras, 401(k))
last updated
certificates of deposit
last updated
investment accounts
last updated
mutual fund accounts
last updated
equity compensation (stock option, restricted stock agreements)
last updated
bonds
last updated
loan payment books
last updated
loan statements
last updated
stock certificates
last updated
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Property Papers
vehicle titles
last updated
original deeds to real property
last updated
affidavits re: domicile
last updated
affidavits re: community property
last updated
affidavits re: separate property
last updated
boat ownership records
last updated
copyrights and patents
last updated
guarantees and warranties
last updated
home improvement papers
last updated
important receipts
last updated
Other
location of important passwords & pins (i.e., debit card, alarm, email)
last updated
loans payable
last updated
loans receivable
last updated
loaned jewelry/coveted belongings
last updated
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Credit Card Inventory
issuer
card number
expiration
card holder
credit limit
Household Inventory
room or area
total cost
present value
replacement cost
Periodically review this information to ensure it is up to date.
Provide copies to applicable parties.
Personal Advisor List
and Document Locator
Safety Deposit Box Inventory (If necessary, Safety Deposit Box Combination)
location
location of keys
contents
date deposited
date removed
© 2012 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
notes
PS24015 2012-PS-495 (05/12) 7263303 08/12
Contents
Personal Information
Liabilities
Health and Medical
• Contact information
• Family member information
• Advisors’ information
• List of creditors and amounts owed
• Lines of credit
• Mortgages outstanding
• Health care proxy/advance
(attorney, CPA, etc.)
• Employment information
Financial and Personal Plans
• For your career
• Financial Planning Reports
• Plans and goals during retirement
• Family focus
Financial Statements
• Net worth statements
• Year-End Bank and
Brokerage statements
• List of credit card issuers
• Letters of instruction
Retirement Benefits
• Employer Retirement Plan
Information and Statements
- 401(k)
- Pension
- 403(b)
• Other plans
• IRA Statements
• 457 Deferred Compensation Statements
• Beneficiary Designation Forms
Legal
• Copies of wills, living trusts, other
trust documents or list and location
of these items
• Powers of Attorney
• Important documents such as birth,
marriage, divorce, death, military
discharge certificates
Insurance
• Life insurance policies and statements
• Long-term care, disability, car,
umbrella insurance information
• Annuity contracts and statements
• Individual health insurance information
• Medigap health insurance policy
• Beneficiary Designation Forms
Real Estate
• Primary and vacation home information
• Investment properties
• Mortgage notes and deeds
• Home contents inventory
• Contact information of realtors, lenders,
real estate attorney
Taxes
Government Benefits
• Last individual income tax return
• Any business tax returns
• Any CPA or tax advisor reports or
• Social Security Benefit
relevant correspondence
Estimate Statements or
Benefit Amount statements
• Medicare
• Veterans Administration benefits
medical directive
• Durable health care power of attorney
• Doctor and other health professional
contact information
• Pharmacy
• List of medications
Beneficiaries
• Beneficiary documents for retirement
accounts, investment accounts,
529 plans, life insurance policies,
annuities, trusts, etc.
Miscellaneous Information
• Church and charity information
• Funeral and cemetery information
• Safe deposit box contents and location
of box and keys
Personal Information
Personal Information
• Contact information
• Family member information
• Advisors’ information
(attorney, CPA, etc.)
• Employment information
• For your career
• Financial Planning Reports
• Plans and goals during retirement
• Family focus
Financial and
Personal Plans
Financial and Personal Plans
Financial Statements
• Net worth statements
• Year-End Bank and
Brokerage statements
• List of credit card issuers
• Letters of instruction
Financial Statements
Retirement Benefits
• Employer Retirement Plan
Information and Statements
- 401(k)
- Pension
- 403(b)
• Other plans
• IRA Statements
• 457 Deferred Compensation Statements
• Beneficiary Designation Forms
Retirement Benefits
Taxes
• Last individual income tax return
• Any business tax returns
• Any CPA or tax advisor reports or
relevant correspondence
Taxes
Liabilities
Liabilities
• List of creditors and amounts owed
• Lines of credit
• Mortgages outstanding
• Copies of wills, living trusts, other
trust documents or list and location
of these items
• Powers of Attorney
• Important documents such as birth,
marriage, divorce, death, military
discharge certificates
Legal
Legal
Insurance
• Life insurance policies and statements
• Long-term care, disability, car,
umbrella insurance information
• Annuity contracts and statements
• Individual health insurance information
• Medigap health insurance policy
• Beneficiary Designation Forms
Insurance
Real Estate
• Primary and vacation home information
• Investment properties
• Mortgage notes and deeds
• Home contents inventory
• Contact information of realtors, lenders,
real estate attorney
Real Estate
Government Benefits
• Social Security Benefit
Estimate Statements or
Benefit Amount statements
• Medicare
• Veterans Administration benefits
Government Benefits
Health and Medical
Health and Medical
• Health care proxy/advance
medical directive
• Durable health care power of attorney
• Doctor and other health professional
contact information
• Pharmacy
• List of medications
• Beneficiary documents for retirement
accounts, investment accounts,
529 plans, life insurance policies,
annuities, trusts, etc.
Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries
Miscellaneous Information
• Church and charity information
• Funeral and cemetery information
• Safe deposit box contents and location
of box and keys
Miscellaneous Information
© 2012 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC.
2012-PS-495 (05/12) 7263303 09/12