A Survivor's

Journal is...

A workbook that
helps you prepare
your family for your
death or disability

Learn more with

these links...

Introduction

Who Should Prepare A Survivor's Journal

Excerpts From The Book

NEW!  Version 2.0...

Now with interactive PDF

forms allowing you to fill in,

save, and print the individual

forms on your computer for ease of use and updating.

Table of Contents from

"How to Create a SURVIVOR'S JOURNAL" - v2.0
 
Italics indicate interactive PDF forms or sample documents
 
INTRODUCTION
If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking 1
How to Use This Book 2
 
SELF-ASSESSMENT
Who Should Prepare a Survivor’s Journal 5
Assessing Your Current Preparedness 6
 
Survivor’s Readiness Self-Assessment 7

EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Who to Call in an Emergency 11
Emergency Contact List 12
Organization Memberships 12
Family Emergency Data 12
Pet Information 13
Central Point of Contact During an Emergency 13
 
Emergency Contact List 15
Organization Memberships 19
Family Emergency Data 21
Pet Information 25
Central Point of Contact During an Emergency 27
Central Gathering Place 27

 
MEDICAL INFORMATION
My Health Care Wishes 29
Living Wills and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care 30
What is a Living Will? 30
What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care? 31
What Medical Decisions Can My Health Care Proxy Make? 31
When Do My Health Care Documents Take Effect? 32
What Happens if I Don’t Have These Health Care Documents? 33
Who Should Be My Health Care Proxy? 33
What is Required to Make My Health Care Documents Legal? 34
Can I Change or Revoke My Health Care Documents? 35
Medical Emergency Data 35
List of Health Care Providers 35
Medical Insurance Information 35
Who is Eligible for Medicare? 36
What Does Medicare Cover? 36
What Does Medicare Cost? 36
How do I Enroll in Medicare? 37
What is Medigap? 38
What is Medicaid? 38
Discussion of Health Care Values 38
Health Care Directives 39
Organ Donation Directive 39
Directive on Donation of Body for Medical Research 40
Nursing Home Checksheet 41
Authorized Medical Emergency Decision Maker 41
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care 42
Living Will 42
 

Medical Emergency Data 43
List of Health Care Providers 45
Medical Insurance Information 47
Discussion of Health Care Values 51
Health Care Directives 53
Organ Donation Directive 59
Directive on Donation of Body for Medical Research 59
Nursing Home Checksheet 61
Authorized Medical Emergency Decision Maker 69
Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care 71
Living Will 77
 
INSURANCE INFORMATION
My Insurance Information 79
How to Complete the Forms in This Section 80
 
Insurance Information 81
 
PROPERTY INFORMATION
My Property and Possessions 87
Property Ownership Rights and Survivorship Issues 88
What is the Definition of Real Property? 89
What is the Definition of Personal Property? 89
Who Inherits My Property When I Die? 89
What is Joint Tenancy? 89
What are the Pros and Cons of Joint Tenancy? 90
What is Tenancy by the Entirety? 90
Is There a Downside to Tenancy by the Entirety? 91
What is Tenants in Common? 91
What are the Pros and Cons of Tenants in Common? 91
What is Community Property? 92
Which States Have Community Property Statutes? 92
What Happens in Community Property States if My Spouse
Dies or I Get a Divorce? 92
What if I am Not Married to My Partner? 93
Inventory of Real Property 93
Rental Property Information 94
Renter’s Information 94
Inventory of Vehicles 95
Inventory of Household Items 95
Explanation of Keys 97
Trusted Service Providers 97
Operating Instructions 98
Location of Vital Records 99
 
Inventory of Real Property 101
Rental Property Information 103
Renter’s Information 105
Inventory of Vehicles 107
Inventory of Household Items 109
Explanation of Keys 111
Trusted Service Providers 113
Operating Instructions 115
Location of Vital Records 117
 
FINANCIAL, TAX AND LEGAL INFORMATION
My Financial Wishes 119
Durable Power of Attorney for Finances 122
What are the Duties of a Financial Agent? 123
How do I Create a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances? 123
When Does My Durable Power of Attorney for Finances End? 124
What Happens if I Don’t Have a Durable Power of Attorney
for Finances? 124
What is a Conservatorship? 125
What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of a
Conservatorship? 125
How is a Conservator Selected? 126
When Does a Conservatorship End? 126
Common Law Marriages 127
Probate 127
What is Probate? 128
What is so Bad About Probate? 128
Do all Estates Have to be Probated? 129
How Can I Avoid Probate? 130
Estate and Inheritance Taxes 131
What is the Difference Between Estate Taxes and
Inheritance Taxes? 131
How Can I Reduce My Inheritance Taxes? 132
Living Trusts 134
What is a Living Trust? 134
If I Have a Will, Do I Need a Living Trust, or Vice Versa? 135
What are the Advantages of a Living Trust? 135
Are Living Trusts Valid in Every State? 137
Can I Change My Living Trust? 137
How do I Create a Living Trust? 137
Does My Trust Have to be Legally Registered Anywhere? 138
Are There Tax Advantages to Me if I Have a Living Trust? 138
AB Trusts 138
What Are the Pros and Cons of an AB Trust? 139
Charitable Remainder Trusts 139
Insurance Trusts 140
How to Fill Out the Forms in This Section 140
Authorized Financial Decision Maker 141
Durable Power of Attorney for Finances 141
Legal and Financial Advisors 141
Bank, Retirement and Other Account Information 141
Stocks, Bonds and Other Investments 141
Safe Deposit Box Information 142
Location of Cash and Other Items of Value 142
Credit Card Information 143
Loan Information 143
Money Owed to Me 143
Business Interests 143
Estate Planning Worksheet 144
Monthly Investment Tracking Sheet 145
Investment Buy and Sell Tracking Sheet 145
Tax Information 146
Service Providers and Monthly Bills 146
Subscription and Membership Information 146
Supporting Documents for This Section 147
 
Authorized Financial Decision Maker 149
Durable Power of Attorney for Finances 151
Legal and Financial Advisors 159
Bank, Retirement and Other Account Information 161
Stocks, Bonds and Other Investment Information 163
Safe Deposit Box Information 165
Location of Cash and Other Items of Value 167
Credit Card Information 169
Loan Information 171
Money Owed to Me 173
Business Interests 175
Estate Planning Worksheet 177
Monthly Investment Tracking Sheet 179
Investment Buy and Sell Tracking Sheet 181
Tax Information 183
Customer Service Numbers 185
Subscription and Membership Information 187

 
CHILD CARE INFORMATION
My Child Care Wishes 189
Who I Want to Care for My Children if I’m Unable
to do so Myself 190
What is a Guardianship? 190
Who Should Be the Guardian of My Children? 191
What if I Don’t Want the Other Parent of My Children
to Care for Them When I Die? 192
How do I Appoint a Guardian for My Children? 193
When Does a Guardianship End? 193
Who I Want to Care for My Children When I am
Separated From Them Temporarily 193
Additional Child Care Concerns 194
What to do if My Child is Missing 194
Child Data Sheet 195
Where My Children May Be When They’re Not at Home 195
 
Designated Guardians for My Children 197
Authorization for Temporary Emergency Care of a Minor Child 199
Child Medical History for Temporary Care 201
My Itinerary While I am Away From My Children 203
What to Do If My Child Is Missing 205
Child Data Sheet 207
Where My Child May Be When He/She is Not at Home 211

DEATH INFORMATION
What to do When I Die 213
Last Will and Testament 215
What Happens if I Die Without a Will? 215
Do I Need a Lawyer to Make a Will? 216
How do I Make My Will Legal? 216
How do I Leave Property to My Family? 217
What if I Want to Disinherit Someone? 219
What if Someone Challenges My Will? 220
How Often Should I Update My Will? 221
The Executor of My Estate 222
Who Can Act as My Executor? 222
What are the Duties of an Executor? 222
Does My Executor Get Paid? 223
What if My Executor Doesn’t Want to Serve? 223
Will My Executor Need Assistance From an Attorney? 223
Preparing for Your Death and Funeral 224
Why are Funerals so Expensive? 225
How Can I Reduce My Funeral Expenses? 226
What is the Role of the Funeral Home? 227
What About Cremation? 230
How do I Preplan and Prefund My Funeral? 231
Veteran’s Benefits 231
Who Is Eligible for Veteran’s Death Benefits? 231
What are the Benefits? 231
How Can My Family Claim My Benefits? 232
Social Security Benefits 232
What are the Benefits? 233
How Can My Family Claim My Benefits? 233
Final Messages to My Family and Friends 234
Supporting Documents for This Section 234
 
Sample Last Will and Testament 235
To Whom I Wish to Bequeath My Personal Items 241
What to do When I Die 243
My Funeral Wishes 251
Obituary Information 257
My Funeral Service 261
Veteran’s Benefits 263
Social Security Benefits 265
My Final Messages to My Family and Friends 267

LEGACY INFORMATION
My Last Loving Legacy 269
How to Complete the Information in This Section 270
Family History Sheet 271
Personal History Data Sheet 272
Supporting Documents for This Section 272
 

Family History Sheet 275
Personal History Data Sheet 277
Awards and Recognitions I’ve Received in My Life 279
Recalling My History 281
My Personal History 283
Location of Vital Records 287

SUMMARY
What to do With Your Journal 289
How to Protect Your Survivor’s Journal 291
How to Order More Survivor’s Journal Books 292