Having gone through this recently (in Canada), the following was fun...
Location of car registration and ownership.
Driver's license.
Checking and other bank accounts.
A mention of personal loans owed to others or owed by others.
Funeral and burial arrangements if already made.
Life insurance and other policies.
Outstanding payments.
Property deed or rental/lease agreement.
if renting or leasing, a list of major items not belonging to the rental property, like appliances.
No comments whatsoever on how the children run their lives; if a parent does the proper job it's none of his business at that point.
Thanks for sharing your personal experience. I know as the attorney handling estates, the easiest one I have done so far was when I met with the executor and he had all the things you mentioned in a manila envelope. The driver's license, everything. That made everything so much easier.
No comments whatsoever on how the children run their lives; if a parent does the proper job it's none of his business at that point.
My only caveat here is that it would depend somewhat on the ages of the children. Once they are adults, I would agree with you. Our job as parents is to prepare them for launch into their own lives, and then let them live them. However, since I raised my sons on my own, each year while they were growing up I would write a letter and put it with my will, telling them my hopes and dreams for them, reminding them how special they are. Fortunately, mine are now grown, but I think the letters would have helped if I had died while they were still young.