The Doctor(s) said "get your affairs in order"
Help! What does that mean?

A printable .pdf file

We recommend that you attach this list, with papers bearing the listed information, to your copy of your Raha Kudo Membership Form.  Keep them together in a secure but readily available folder which can be easily found after death.

Include a note regarding any provision for partial or full payment in advance of funeral costs, inducing title and location of account, its number, and:

•     a dated list of additional details on the final disposition of your body, such as:

•     names and addresses of recipients of donation of your body

•     or of specific organs,

•     cemetery plot description and location

•     or columbarium niche number and description

•     any desired inscription,

•     place of scattering of ashes,

•     or details of desired services.

Provide us with a dated list of any expected death benefits such as:

• Social Security lump sum death benefit,

• Veterans Administration reimbursement for funeral and cemetery costs (a copy of discharge papers ready for use in making the claim may prove useful)

• lump sum payment or cancellation on a pension

• credit union account

• accident insurance or mortgage

• dated list of all life insurance policies in force including serial numbers:

Dated list of the following:

• location and appropriate numbers and combinations of safe deposit box(es), strong boxes, safes and their keys. 

• credit cards and charge accounts, with serial numbers. 

• list of merchandise or property on which payments must be made, with dates and amounts. 

• list of bank, credit union, building and loan, and stock brokerage accounts with serial numbers.

• list of securities and property which you own. 

• list of names and addresses of your lawyer, accountant, next-of-kin and executor of your estate. 

• list of all important papers in your safe deposit box(es).

• list of all important papers and other valuable items not kept in your safe deposit box, with their locations, such as:

•     insurance policies,

•     automobile title slips,

•     bank books,

•     income tax returns,

•     birth marriage and divorce certificates,

•     discharge paper

•     jewelry

• A copy of your will and note of the location of the original

• list of newspapers/magazine/journal subscriptions,

• book and record clubs to which you belong

• any other organizations to which you belong. 

Check list of items for NEXT-OF-KIN.

Some or all these tasks will need to be done at time of death. We recommend that this check list be attached to the other papers mentioned above:

• Consult written directions for funeral arrangements and disposition.

• Notify all insurance companies

• Notify Social Security office and Veterans Administration if eligible for benefits.  (The funeral director may assist in this.)

• Check for other death benefits such as:

•     credit union accounts,

•     pensions, etc.

• Notify mortgage lenders

• Notify book and record clubs,

• Notify magazine subscriptions,

• Notify banks,

• Notify stock broker

• Notify credit card companies

• Notify merchants where deceased had accounts.

• Notify Post Office of forwarding address to survivor or executor. 

• Notify the funeral director named on the Membership Statement form.

• Ask for enough copies of the death certificate for life insurance claims and similar demands. 

• Notify medical school, eye bank, or similar organization if arrangements have been made for donation of body or organs. 

• Decide on time and place of service, if any, in consultation with clergyman, reader, or other appropriate persons. 

• List and notify:

•     musician,

•     reader,

•     pall bearers,

•     others who may participate in the service

•    immediate family,

•     close friends,

•     employer,

•     union,

•     lawyer,

•     accountant

•     executor or administrator of estate.

•     distant people to be notified and arrange for letter.

Here is what the newspaper is likely to want:

• full name,

• age,

• place of birth

• place of death,

• cause of death,

• occupation,

• degrees,

• memberships,

• military service,

• outstanding work,

• survivors in immediate family,

• time and place of services, if any

Good ideas

• Keep lists of :

•     calls,

•     flowers,

•     notes and arrange for acknowledgment.

• Make needed household arrangements  for:

•     child care

•     hospitality for visiting relatives.

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