By Cynthia Nowowiejski

Homage Senior Services

Q. I am retiring this year. I have heard my friends talking about getting their “affairs in order.” I am concerned about being prepared for the future. What do I need to do?

A. Congratulations, you are retiring this year! The good news is that you will have more time in the near future to organize your personal, financial, and legal information.

You can start now with a basic “To Do” list. This can help you to prepare for a possible emergency (ie. an unexpected illness and hospitalization).

One good starting place is gathering and organizing important papers. Important papers can be different for each individual or family. For example, if you have a pet, you will need to include the name and address of your veterinarian.

Personal records

Your full legal name

Date and place of birth

Social Security number

Birth and death certificates

Certificates of marriage, divorce, adoption, and citizenship.

Phone numbers (home, cell phone)

E-Mail, Social Media information

Names and addresses of spouse and children

Employers and dates of employment

Education and military records

Names and phone number of close friends, relatives,

Names and phone numbers of doctors, medical facilities

Medications taken regularly (be sure to update this regularly)

Names of lawyers and financial advisors

Names and numbers of religious contacts

Financial records

Sources of income and assets (pension from, employer, IRAs, 401 Ks, etc)

Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid information

Names of your banks and account numbers (checking, savings, credit union)

Credit and debit card names and number

Location of safe deposit box and key

Investment income (stocks, bond, property) and stockbrokers’ names and phone numbers

Copy of recent income tax return

Insurance information (life, health, long term care, home care) with policy numbers and agents’ names and phone numbers

Location of current will with original signature, legal document

Mortgage information or original deed of trust for home

Car title and registration

List of monthly bills and due dates

Legal documents

There are several legal documents that can help you plan how your affairs will be handled in the future.

Wills and trusts let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die.

Advance directives let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. There are two ways to do this:

A health care directive gives you a say in your health care if you become too sick to make your wishes known. You can state what kind of care you do or don’t want.

Power of attorney for health care lets you name the person you want to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself. Make sure the person you name is willing to make those decisions for you.

For legal matters, there are two ways to give someone you trust the power to act in your place:

A general power of attorney lets you give someone else the authority to act on your behalf, but this power will end if you are unable to make your own decisions.

A durable power of attorney allows you to name someone to act on your behalf for any legal task, but it stays in place if you become unable to make your own decisions.

Steps to take …

1. Put your important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. Set up a file listing information and locations of important papers in a notebook. If your papers are in a bank safe deposit box, keep copies in a file at home.

2. Tell a trusted family member or friend where you put your important papers.

3. Give permission in advance for your doctor or lawyer to talk with your spouse, family member or care provider. There may be questions about your care, a bill, etc. You will need to sign and return a form.