Let’s sort out your checklist
There are the obvious things that we all think about – details of the mortgage, where the latest version of the will is stored.
However, there will be lots of things that don’t come immediately to mind that your Executor will need to know about.
That’s where we can help. We’ll give you a checklist to work with, suggest things you might not consider and help in every way we can to get your estate sorted.
What you own
This is where you record all the information about your assets. For example:
- Bank name
- Trust funds
- Shares and bonds
- Property
- Vehicles
- Insurance policies
- Any money you have owing to you
- KiwiSaver and Super Funds
There is an ‘other’ section for you to include any thing we might not have thought of. For example, you might want to upload details of particularly valuable pieces of jewellery, or other specific items.
We strongly recommend that you do not include all the details of how to gain access your assets. A bank name and branch is all the bank will need to set the process of sorting out your estate in motion. You could also include contact details for the key people who will be able to help; for example, a Financial Advisor, Mortgage Broker or your Bank Manager.
What you owe
This is where you include details of all your current debts. For example:
- Bank loans
- Loans outstanding to individuals
- Lease or hire purchases
Again, there is an ‘other’ folder for you to include items that don’t fit quite so neatly in to the pre-labelled folders.
Your Estate Wishes
This section focuses specifically on estate storage and includes everything that will support your Executor and your family to honour your wishes.
This would be the place to upload your will, or the details of the solicitor who has it.
You can also include information about how you’d like your funeral to be, such as the music, specific readings that you’d like (and who you’d like to read them), the venue – even the guest list!
You can upload photos of items that you plan to bequest, such as paintings, jewellery and items of furniture, and the names and contact details of the people you’d like them to go to.
You might choose to upload personal documents, such as letters to family, and you can also include a list of the people that you’d like to be notified when the time comes.
