After I'm Gone Documents

[Lewis Clark]

I created our "After I'm Gone" document several years ago and review it at least every year, and whenever I recognize when an update is needed.

While reviewing it today I started thinking about accounts that will need to be closed. I already included things like credit cards, financial accounts, utilities, telecommunications, email, social media, and any vendor or service provider we use regularly. Websites for organizations for which we volunteer. And any account on a website that has a credit card on file.

I realized we have dozens of accounts on websites that we use less often. Companies we buy from occasionally, rewards programs from hotels or restaurants or airlines, realtor.com, and so on. I have not really considered closing them to be worth the trouble but now I am having second thoughts. What do others do about these types of accounts?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

 

[aja8888]

I made a list of those sites and have included it in my "End of Life" notebook. DD will have a flash drive with access to my password manager to go into and close the sites. We did the same for DW when she died two years ago.

 

[Earl E Retyre]

I was also working on this type of documentation today. But I never considered listing things like hotel rewards, restaurants, airlines, etc. - what does it really matter if these don’t get closed?

 

[Jerry1]

I was also working on this type of documentation today. But I never considered listing things like hotel rewards, restaurants, airlines, etc. - what does it really matter if these don’t get closed?

Agree. Even something like Amazon - just make sure that the underlying credit card is shut down.

Oh, and make sure someone lets your friends on er.org know of your passing.

 

[CaptTom]

Yeah, my document is for the convenience of those left behind. I can't imagine anyone caring whether or not some account is left inactive, as long as it can't cause the heirs any hassle or expense.

There are "dead man switch" type services which allow you to set up on-line stuff to happen automatically if you don't sign in and indicate you're still alive for a while. Again, not sure I have any on-line presence which matters. I've thought about leaving some sort of message for family and friends, but at that point it's not about me any more. It's probably better to say what we want to say while still alive.

 

[rk911]

I call our 'After I'm Gone Documents' the EMERGENCY Book'. The same sort of lists others have mentioned plus other non-financial items and, coincidentally, I'm in the process of updating everything.

 

[RunningBum]

Some of them, Amazon in particular, are important to shut down because of subscriptions. I don't have that covered and need to figure that out. I guess shutting down the cards handles that? If you don't have a way to pay for them Amazon won't keep shipping. OK, done. That was quick!

I don't see a need to bother with frequent fliers programs, hotel rewards, etc.

 

[aja8888]

When my wife passed, we didn't have her credentials to her Apple account and had a difficult time getting two subscriptions turned off. Keep in mind any accounts where subscriptions are involved, those passwords/user names/account numbers need to be handy for the person trying to end them.

 

[CaliKid]

I created our "After I'm Gone" document several years ago and review it at least every year, and whenever I recognize when an update is needed.

While reviewing it today I started thinking about accounts that will need to be closed. I already included things like credit cards, financial accounts, utilities, telecommunications, email, social media, and any vendor or service provider we use regularly. Websites for organizations for which we volunteer. And any account on a website that has a credit card on file.

I realized we have dozens of accounts on websites that we use less often. Companies we buy from occasionally, rewards programs from hotels or restaurants or airlines, realtor.com, and so on. I have not really considered closing them to be worth the trouble but now I am having second thoughts. What do others do about these types of accounts?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Most of those things just don't matter much it seems to me. A few points here or there, a few bills that may go unpaid or whatever, etc. I don't worry about creditors/bills after death as my credit score won't matter much then!

 

[robnplunder]

I have been trying to simplify DW's life after I am gone.

• Closed store-issued cards (Macy's, Best Buy, ...)
• Reduced the number of credit cards to a bare minimum
• Made everything to be auto-paid
• Created a finance flow diagram for DW to follow
• Documented list of critical account names and passwords
• Declustering my stuff in the house (very slow going)
• (TBD) Set up a trust

 

[Koolau]

Agree. Even something like Amazon - just make sure that the underlying credit card is shut down.

Oh, and make sure someone lets your friends on er.org know of your passing.

Agreed!!

It should say something like: Ko'olau didn't go away mad. He just went away.

 

[Midpack]

I made a list of those sites and have included it in my "End of Life" notebook. DD will have a flash drive with access to my password manager to go into and close the sites. We did the same for DW when she died two years ago.

+1. A separate page in the notebook with our trust docs, updated annually. All accounts user IDs and passwords, hard copy and flash drive - including those for our devices (desktop, laptop, iPads, iPhones).

 

[Lewis Clark]

I was also working on this type of documentation today. But I never considered listing things like hotel rewards, restaurants, airlines, etc. - what does it really matter if these don’t get closed?

That was my original mindset. I asked because I wanted to see if I was missing something.

 

[CaptTom]

...including those for our devices (desktop, laptop, iPads, iPhones).

Good one! I had laptop passwords but hadn't thought of adding the PIN codes for our mobile devices to the my list. Done!

 

[Flieger]

I created our "After I'm Gone" document several years ago and review it at least every year, and whenever I recognize when an update is needed.

While reviewing it today I started thinking about accounts that will need to be closed. I already included things like credit cards, financial accounts, utilities, telecommunications, email, social media, and any vendor or service provider we use regularly. Websites for organizations for which we volunteer. And any account on a website that has a credit card on file.

I realized we have dozens of accounts on websites that we use less often. Companies we buy from occasionally, rewards programs from hotels or restaurants or airlines, realtor.com, and so on. I have not really considered closing them to be worth the trouble but now I am having second thoughts. What do others do about these types of accounts?

Thank you in advance for your thoughts!

Thanks for this timely post! I forgot to go through and update at the beginning of this year!

Flieger

 

[Healthy Lifestyle]

Good one! I had laptop passwords but hadn't thought of adding the PIN codes for our mobile devices to the my list. Done!

+1. I forgot this one which will be important when my time comes.

 

[pacergal]

I hadn't thought about social media accounts or other accounts. I guess I figured closing the credit/debit cards and financial accounts after everything was transferred/paid out would be enough.
Maybe not?

 

[ncbill]

I hadn't thought about social media accounts or other accounts. I guess I figured closing the credit/debit cards and financial accounts after everything was transferred/paid out would be enough.
Maybe not?

I'm still using the social media accounts of a close relative who died years ago.

 

[donheff]

Auto Pays and subscriptions. Something more to add to my document. I labeled it "Actions on Death."

 

[aja8888]

I hadn't thought about social media accounts or other accounts. I guess I figured closing the credit/debit cards and financial accounts after everything was transferred/paid out would be enough.
Maybe not?

I closed my wife's Facebook account a few months after she passed. I had some backlash from one of her relatives about doing that. Kind of peeved me, but I told them there was no sense in leaving it open. She was gone and you have pictures, etc.

What did he expect? More posts? Crazy.

 

[Koolau]

I closed my wife's Facebook account a few months after she passed. I had some backlash from one of her relatives about doing that. Kind of peeved me, but I told them there was no sense in leaving it open. She was gone and you have pictures, etc.

What did he expect? More posts? Crazy.

I suppose it was an emotional issue for the relative - sort of a confirmation that there would be no more posts.

Some folks have problems when birth days or Mothers day, etc. roll around. I could see the deletion of her FB account might stir things. Having said that, it's your decision. Perhaps the relative should be thinking of YOUR feelings instead of his/her own.

Emotions of loss are not always rational. Continued blessings, aja8888.

 

[steady saver]

I just pulled out my Life in Motion book (lifeinmotion.com). It's basically a "book" that I printed out that basically has everything my sons will need to have handy after DH and I pass. Full confession is that I bought this a few years ago and had only barely started it. But oh my goodness, I'm dealing with my dad's jumble of notes and papers now after his passing and it has been a freaking nightmare. He prided himself on being so organized but it is a big mess. Folders marked incorrectly, papers found in different places - drawers, filing cabinets, the garage... I pleaded with him before he passed to let me "in", to let me have more information so I could help mom after he passed. But he was stubborn. I do have many (but not all...and that is key here) things but it's been beyond stressful. My sisters tried to do things while I was traveling but I came back to a jumble of junk and a very depressed mom.

You can bet I will not be doing this to my sons.

Please, however you do it, get your affairs in order - legible and with clear instructions and passwords, account numbers, phone numbers, etc. It is the kindest thing you can do to those you leave behind.

 

[MdaPetralia]

Keep in mind any accounts where subscriptions are involved, those passwords/user names/account numbers need to be handy for the person trying to end them.

Auto Pays and subscriptions. Something more to add to my document.

Shouldn't just canceling the credit card(s) take care of this?

 

[badatmath]

Shouldn't just canceling the credit card(s) take care of this?

IDK but I wouldn't think so. . . they might want to send you to collections? I mean you wouldn't care but. . .

 

[RetireBy90]

+1. A separate page in the notebook with our trust docs, updated annually. All accounts user IDs and passwords, hard copy and flash drive - including those for our devices (desktop, laptop, iPads, iPhones).

I don't remember them now