Your Letters Of Instruction
When it comes to thinking about your own mortality, it is never too soon to take charge
of matters that are still within your control.
There are many things to consider when organizing your affairs, developing and managing an estate plan,
and making your funeral arrangements. Not only is this a valuable exercise for you, some say it is the
greatest gift you can leave your surviving loved ones. It eases their stress during an extremely
emotional time and it also ensures your wishes are fulfilled.
Your letters of instruction is a list of essential information to help your survivors cope during a difficult time.
Use the work sheets in the Helpful Forms & Lists box to record personal data that should be accessible to your survivors
or executors upon your death. If your records are more complicated than this outline encompasses, you can customize your
own format to include additional information.
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The work sheets are designed so that you can record important personal and financial information that your survivors
will need upon your death. It is essential that you store this information in a safe deposit box at your financial institution
or in another secure location away from your residence. It contains sensitive information that can be misused in the wrong
hands. Handle your completed work sheets with care and caution. You can also scan the documents, save them to a disk and store
the disk in your safe deposit box. Your survivors and/or executor(s) may be designated as a signer on your safe deposit box,
have a key and know the location of the box.
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Keep your letters of instruction updated, since the information is likely to change over time. You should provide copies
to your executor and the individual you appoint as your power of attorney.
If your wishes include donating your body organs or tissues to transplant facilities, you will need to sign the proper forms
to authorize the donation. In some states, you can do this as part of renewing your driver’s license or by obtaining the form
from your local Department of Motor Vehicles. Your physician and local hospital should be able to tell you what is required in
your state.
This article only a guide. The USAA Educational Foundation does not provide legal or tax advice, so you may want to seek the
advice of tax, legal or financial planning professionals.
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