Are your account credentials securely recorded for future caregivers and executors?

I recently misplaced my debit card and was very quick to call my bank and cancel it. Then, just a few short hours later, I got the first email informing me that an automatic payment was not able to be processed. I sat down to complete the arduous task of updating my payment information on all of my accounts. 

As I worked through the bank statement, I created a list of all of accounts using that card, knowing that I would need to update them again in the coming weeks. By the end of the evening I had a complete working list of recurring bills, subscriptions, and monthly expenses and decided at that moment that I needed to have this information available to my loved ones. 

It had taken me hours to pull it together and I knew how to access all of the accounts. What would happen to my caregivers and loved ones in the future if I was unable to gather this information for them? How would they know which subscriptions to cancel and which bills to move to another form of payment?  

I created a simple spreadsheet that contained a list of accounts, where they were located (including url), the username and password for each account, and the amount either owed or paid to that account. 

Saving Your Loved Ones Time & Stress

The process of documenting your account credentials and login information can be tedious, but the couple of hours you spend now can save your loved ones so much time and energy in the future. And, once the information is gathered and the set up complete, most of the work is done! 

You will want to revisit the document about every six to twelve months and make any necessary updates. It is also important to ensure that the appropriate individuals have access to the document. 

Whether you share a google spreadsheet, use an online password manager, or print out copies and leave with your Will and other end of life documents, make sure that your account documents are in a safe and accessible place.