Special offer

My Something Has Happened to Me File

By
Real Estate Agent with The Platinum Group Realtors

We all know friends, family and celebrities who have accidents or unexpected deaths occur all the time.  Maybe that is the problem, because it is so "common" for unexpected things to happen we don't sit down and think "what if something happened to me".  

 

In talking to a friend over the holidays he told me about his "If Something Has Happened To Me" file.  It jolted me to think about what do I have and does anyone know where to go, what to look for, what I have and/or what I want?  Consider taking some time to write out a letter to be kept somewhere that you can direct your spouse, children, best friend or Trustee to go to.   In this file take the time to note who is important in your life both personally and from a business perspective.  What are their home, office and cell phone numbers?  Email addresses?  Who is important to contact first?  If there is someone very connected to a particular aspect of your life or that you value their opinion be sure to note that.

 

What is your bank information, attorneys, wills, trusts/trustees.  Who needs to help you with that detail?  Where can all of this information be found?  In your opinion does anything need to happen pretty quickly or is there a priority that would be helpful?  Do you have a church/minister that you are involved with in the event of a major illness or death?  Is there anything important to you about your funeral that you would like your family to know.


Last and maybe most importantly make sure to tell your family how you feel about them?  Are you proud, do you love them, what are your favorite memories or times with each?  Taking the time to create a document that would be helpful in an emergency situation is a gift beyond measure.

 

Wishing you a long, healthy and happy life and if there is a bump in the road A Something Has Happened to Me File to support all who love and care about you.

Posted by

Kelly Young Realtor

About the Author: Kelly Conner Young, GRI

Kelly is an Associate Broker with The Platinum Group Realtors.  She has over 15 years experience in Real Estate in the Colorado Springs and Front Range region of Colorado. She represents buyers and sellers of real estate buying homes, land for sale and mountain property getaways.   Specific areas include:  Black Forest, Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Divide, Falcon, Downtown, Manitou Springs, Monument, Old Colorado City, Westside, Woodmen Hills and Woodland Park. You can reach her at 719-226-0126 or by clicking "email the author" above.

Comments(2)

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Good advice, Kelly.

   May I add:  leave instructions regarding your computer, your hard drive, and any other devices or data storage.   Think about someone getting your laptop or tablet, what they could do with the personal data that may be stored on it.

     My directive, in the event of my death, includes the name and contact info of an IT guy here in Tallahassee.  I want him to wipe my hard drive and external drives, and then destroy them and dispose of them.

Jan 20, 2016 12:16 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Kelly,  Thanks so much for the great advice.  Hopefully this will prompt many of us to take action and get some of these things done.  

Jan 20, 2016 12:41 PM