Ensure Your Next Of Kin Can Access Your Devices

[Terminal_Boy]

Whomever you have listed as your next of kin should know where all your physical legal documents are kept.

Ensure that they know how to access whatever your primary device/computer is.

This device should contain a list of passwords in some accessible form.

Other really helpful info:

- Contact details for your family solicitor
- Your funeral wishes
- Which email address/phone number/bank account is connected to all your government services, health and utility providers

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Nope, terrible advice unless you are 100% positive (and even then I wouldn't recommend it) they will never get hacked or scammed, too many people allow unwarranted remote access to their devices and having a file full of passwords on it is just asking for trouble unless you go to great lengths to obfuscate the contents. A hard copy kept with legal documents is a far safer option.

Fair point.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

i need to sort some of this out

Although i think a couple of my email accounts i would rather self distruct

Yeah, I had one hanging around like that a long while ago which had to go bye-bye once I got into a long-term relationship.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

Is it bad that I have a - "in case I die" Sealed envelope for my mum or sister who'll have to deal with my life?
Of course this will get updated when mum is not around or I have a wife etc.

But its the starting access codes to get into my devices and password vault.
Along with general instructions of whats about, what needs reviewing/cancelling, where to get money out etc etc.

No, that’s brilliant idea.

You could even have a solicitor hold it for you and let family know of its existence and who to contact.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

I definitely agree it's helpful to know you have a pension with X, life insurance with Y, an ISA with Z, etc.

But is it necessary for the next of kin to have access to the account (I.e. Usernames, passwords, 2fa, etc)? Don't these sorts of places have protocols for when contacted by family of the deceased?

Doomsday Envelope held by the solicitor is looking the way to go, isn’t it?

A One Stop Shop that NoK only get to see once there’s a Death Certificate.