Executors’ Information - where to hide it so it can be found when needed?

Kemu

p00hsticks said:

I'd say that possibly there is some overthinking going on here, in that it's really not necessary - and is probably against the relevant T&Cs - to inform executors, next of kin etc of login ids and passwords. 

In my experience all that is needed are the various company names and - ideally - the account numbers.

The only passwords I'd recommend are the ones to get into your phone, e-mail and social media. 

Thanks @p00hsticks but I’m not listing access passwords and all that - I absolutely understand that faking access after a death is not allowed and probably illegal. It’s the list of institutions that our executors will need to contact that I’m trying to find a way to keep up to date, but not in their faces at every update - - until they need it. At which time I’d like to make their lives as straightforward as I can. 

user1977

Kemu said:

Cairnpapple said:

Probably worth bearing in mind that the chances of you both going at the same time are very low. At least one of you will probably get the chance to streamline things and have more discussion with executors as time goes on.  

Normal life would suggest you are right, @Cairnpapple, however we spend a lot of time exploring in our motorhome - vastly increasing the chances of going together. 

I doubt "vastly" is the correct word there! How many "joint deaths in motorhome accidents" are there each year? The vast majority of people die at a ripe old age of natural causes.

Kemu

Alphatauri said:

There is a Message in a Bottle scheme most councils or LA recommend. It’s primarily intended for use by the Emergency Services. https://www.informationnow.org.uk/article/bottle-in-the-fridge-emergency-information-scheme/

It is simply a sticker by the front door to indicate where information is held - often the fridge. The bottle or box contains important information about medical conditions, medication, NOK contacts etc. I see no reason why the bottle/box couldn’t include a note who the executors are and where to find the information.

I have a quick link on my PC to a folder entitled For Executors. 

The message in a bottle scheme is a good thought @Alphatauri thanks. However, one needs to be sure one’s not giving away too much information to burglars who can also recognise the sticker by the door. THAT’S the clever bit of this jigsaw that I’m looking for!

I too have a file on my computer, but that depends on my executors physically finding it. 

Kemu

user1977 said:

Kemu said:

Cairnpapple said:

Probably worth bearing in mind that the chances of you both going at the same time are very low. At least one of you will probably get the chance to streamline things and have more discussion with executors as time goes on.  

Normal life would suggest you are right, @Cairnpapple, however we spend a lot of time exploring in our motorhome - vastly increasing the chances of going together. 

I doubt "vastly" is the correct word there! How many "joint deaths in motorhome accidents" are there each year? The vast majority of people die at a ripe old age of natural causes.

@user1977 my intentions indeed, but ‘chance’ is a different game - wot I’m trying to prepare for…

Gers

Kemu said:

I too have a file on my computer, but that depends on my executors physically finding it. 

I've told my executors the name of the relevant files and the passwords to those files. Can't leave such things to chance.

JGB1955

Every month I update a 'state of the nation' document that contains all the bereavement phone numbers for all of the accounts I have at that time.  It includes account numbers and balances remaining, details of house and car insurance, direct debits, pensions etc etc.  I (still) use Money 2005 to print out a net worth document at the same time.  The document (and associated memory sticks) is kept in a safe, at home, alongside our wills and POAs, where my family are aware of its existence.  'Locked' with the key in it because I'm only interested in the fireproof capabilities of the safe.

Kemu

JGB1955 said:

Every month I update a 'state of the nation' document that contains all the bereavement phone numbers for all of the accounts I have at that time.  It includes account numbers and balances remaining, details of house and car insurance, direct debits, pensions etc etc.  I (still) use Money 2005 to print out a net worth document at the same time.  The document (and associated memory sticks) is kept in a safe, at home, alongside our wills and POAs, where my family are aware of its existence.  'Locked' with the key in it because I'm only interested in the fireproof capabilities of the safe.

Yes @JGB1955 , that’s as far as I have got in the house. The physical wills are with the solicitor with a ‘codicil’ document giving a link to my version of your ‘state of the nation’. My wish is to allow our executors, at the required time in the (hopefully distant) future, a link that will actually work then, without bothering them every time Dropbox (or whoever) changes their rules! It looks like this kind of future-planning isn’t yet available 

tooldle

I have we have a document in our safe. Executor knows how to access the safe.

Sea_Shell

You could always leave a set of clues and send them on a treasure hunt😉

Like solving The Da Vinci Code.

LucasMucus

I'm in the process of getting a new will written by an online company called Kinherit. These were recommended by my IFA, and they keep your will in an online vault and a physical storage. 
www.kinherit.co.uk/kinvault/