Open this if I am dead

onlyroz

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

You mean the people who've taken the time to respond to your post asking for advice?

Not to worry, they probably won't bother again, I know I won't.

People have made a lot of assumptions here about my husband's capacity or inclination to deal with financial affairs, which I have largely ignored because they are not relevant to my original question.


For the record, he is not like some fragile pensioner who has been shielded from the big bad world by an over-protective spouse. He is perfectly capable of understanding how to operate a bank account or set up a household utility, but prefers to relegate these matters to me because I am better at it and more interested in ensuring we have the best deals.

onlyroz

Grenage wrote: »

As has already been mentioned, just use a shared hosting service like google drive.

It's free.
It doesn't involve your parents.
It's instantly accessible on computer or phone.
It's quick to update.

A letter that needs to be constantly modified, sitting in a safe in someone else's house, is at best needlessly complicated and inefficient.

I indicated in a few posts that I might do something like this - but the password for the document would go into the safe. And the only reason for involving my parents is that they are the ones with the safe, and they have said that I can share it with them.

Grenage

Why does the password need to be a in a safe? Who will know the combination to the safe if you and your parents are killed in an accident?

onlyroz

Grenage wrote: »

Why does the password need to be a in a safe? Who will know the combination to the safe if you and your parents are killed in an accident?

The safe is the designated go-to place for emergency information, more secure than a post-it-note stuck to the monitor, and easier to navigate than finding a folder in a filing cabinet.


And as I said above, if we were all killed in a freak accident or had our minds wiped by aliens, then the safe could be opened using brute force if necessary. I think there is also a procedure for obtaining entry via the manufacturer.

Mojisola

onlyroz wrote: »

By this I mean that the will states that the rules of intestacy should be applied when figuring out who gets what.

Why spend money on writing a will that says 'divide my estate according to the law'?

onlyroz

Mojisola wrote: »

Why spend money on writing a will that says 'divide my estate according to the law'?

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure - but that is a topic for another thread

Poor_Single_lady

I know it wasn't your aim but your post has highlighted that this is really something in some form we should all do.

I am going to get a folder and make notes on the debts and finances for my flat. I live alone and nobody else on the planet knows about this so will be much easier to have it all together as a guide rather than have your family trying to piece together how things work.

I think it's a good idea. And lucky husband having you be so considerate. My mum runs my parents house. My dad has no interest In the electric supplier or how the water bill is paid. In my book what you are doing is great planning.

Will do this over the weekend. Thank you.

ManofLeisure_2

Call me an old romantic, but what about a letter which will aid his emotional recovery on your death. Crikey, opening a safe full of info about financial matters etc seems a little sterile to me. Just my opinion of course.

Tiddlywinks

The title of this thread is obviously designed to grab attention... but there are life events that are just as damaging financially (if not more so): serious illness, mental incapacity are two that immediately spring to mind.

I think you've made your mind up to use the fire safe just because.... well, just because... yet, others have pointed out ways that might actually be much more efficient.

Every time you change an account, password etc you will have to update the physical list - unnecessary faff just because... you want to use the safe.

<shrug> each to their own but it kind of seems like wanting to exercise control over your husband rather than working with him - surely if he is an equal partner in all of this he should be jointly involved in the compilation and maintenance of the information.

If a man were to come on here and suggest he held all details in a safe at his parents' house and the little lady didn't need to worry herself then people would see that as controlling - how is this any different?

onlyroz

Tiddlywinks wrote: »

The title of this thread is obviously designed to grab attention... but there are life events that are just as damaging financially (if not more so): serious illness, mental incapacity are two that immediately spring to mind.

I think you've made your mind up to use the fire safe just because.... well, just because... yet, others have pointed out ways that might actually be much more efficient.

Every time you change an account, password etc you will have to update the physical list - unnecessary faff just because... you want to use the safe.

<shrug> each to their own but it kind of seems like wanting to exercise control over your husband rather than working with him - surely if he is an equal partner in all of this he should be jointly involved in the compilation and maintenance of the information.

If a man were to come on here and suggest he held all details in a safe at his parents' house and the little lady didn't need to worry herself then people would see that as controlling - how is this any different?

i think I've said at least three times now that I think a good solution would be to maintain an electronic document and put the password for it in the safe.