I've created a password reminder and record-keeper for you to record and store your passwords and account numbers, and I've attached it here for you to use. If you do use it, please make sure that you store your record somewhere safe! To help out your executor, you might consider keeping a copy of it with your will, which I assume you're storing in a safe place such as a safe deposit box. A kitchen drawer doesn't count as a safe place, as it won't protect your documents from fire, water damage, theft, small children with jam hands, or nosy people.
The password reminder is set up in sections so that you can group similar items together. You might have to add more sections though I've tried to include everything. If I've missed something, leave me a comment to let me know, and I'll add it. If you find that some of the sections don't apply to you, just delete them.
GUARD YOUR PRIVACY BY KEEPING THIS RECORD IN A SAFE PLACE
The record below is set out in categories in alphabetical order. Within each category are three columns for the site address, your user name (or account name/number) and your password.
Alumni sites – high school, college, university
| ||
Banking sites and investment sites
| ||
Blogs you like to read
| ||
Charities and causes
| ||
Child care, babysitters
| ||
Clubs, sports and groups
| ||
Computer
| ||
Credit cards and debit cards
| ||
Dating
| ||
E-mail accounts
| ||
Games
| ||
Genealogy
| ||
Health, medical plan, doctors and pharmacies
| ||
Lawyers and legal information
| ||
Movie clubs or subscriptions
| ||
Newsletters – those that you receive, as well as any you might produce or edit
| ||
Newspapers and magazines
| ||
Online communities - places where you go to chat with your friends, support groups or special interest groups
| ||
Pet-related sites – the veterinarian, the kennel and information
| ||
Pictures and albums
| ||
Professional memberships
| ||
Research
| ||
Reward plans – sites where you receive air miles or shopping points
| ||
Shopping – places where you have created a shopping profile
| ||
Social media where you have accounts or profiles
| ||
Subscriptions
| ||
Utility companies and other online monthly bills
| ||
Teaching and learning sites
| ||
Vendor sites – places where you sell goods or services online
| ||
Web hosting and other site administration – web hosting, statistics, etc relating to your online blog, shop or site
| ||
Weight loss, nutrition and recipes
| ||
Work-related – places where you find resources or people that help you with your day-to-day work
| ||
Voice mail
| ||
I read with great interest your blog of Friday, July 23, 2010 entitled “Top Five Mistakes Made by Executors” as well as your Wednesday, March 17, 2010 blog entitled “Executor Liability”. I was wondering if I could ask your advice on two matters listed in your blogs: 2. Keeping secrets and failing to communicate and If you are an executor and you are worried about your own liability, remember that if you are honest, let everyone know what you're doing, and move things along as quickly as is reasonably possible, you are not likely to run into trouble. You can also avoid losses and mistakes by relying on experienced professional help, such as accountants, lawyers, realtors and appraisers. That way you can back up your actions with documented proof of why you took the steps you took.
ReplyDelete18 months ago, I completed my duties as Power of Attorney and handed all requested paperwork to my siblings (1 brother, 1 sister) in their capacity as Co-Executors of my parent’s estate. I handed over all requested e-mails, accounting, letters from lawyers as I felt that I had nothing to hide and I completed my duties as Power of Attorney in an honest forthright manner. I also communicated regularly with all family members to ensure open lines of communication.
My current issue is that I have not heard from my siblings (Co-Executors) for a year (last dated contact was by e-mail on February 24, 2012). As one of the beneficiaries, I cannot believe the lack of communication from the Co-Executors and while I do not want to accuse them of any wrong doing, I am at a loss what to do. Can you recommend my best course of action?
Thank you in advance for your support with this request.