Mudcatters take heed. There is a lesson to be learned from the above postings.

Having lost both of our mothers within a year, with one of them leaving quite a mess, we resolved not to do this to anyone else.

We have compiled a book (and a corresponding computer file) entitled "When We Die". It contains (we hope) everything either of us will need to know when the other dies and our children will need to know when we both die.

Contents include a list of our assets and how they are transferred on death, a list of important documents and where they are, our attorney, accountant, doctor, etc., the location of our phone book, a list of credit cards, a list of our phone numbers (we have three), the location of our safe deposit box, its key and its contents, a lists of our bank accounts, bonds and stocks, a list of our insurance policies, retirement income, and information about our income tax and where old returns can be found.

Finally, it includes some directives stating who we would like notified, how we want our bodies handled and what kind of memorial service we would like, durable powers of attorney, durable powers of attorny for health care, and copies of our wills.

This took a fair amount of work to compile but it was a lot less than someone else would have to do. It takes a lot of discipline to keep it up to date but, on the other hand, it has become a useful reference tool while we're still alive.

Please do this for the sake of your loved ones. It will help clean up the mess you leave behind and make your passing much easier to deal with.

Bev and Jerry