Contents pages help many readers to decide whether a particular book is appropriate for them. The following is extracted from the contents pages of The Estate Manual. In the software, each title acts as a quick link.

The editorial sections of the manual are written in an easy-going, sometimes humorous style, and always with a view to making life easier for you and those close to you. You will find much of the content useful to you in your day-to-day living.

Here are the contents:

A word about organization

Update record

Introduction

Some real-life experiences show why every adult needs this Organizer.

An executor

For when you’re not in charge.

Location of important documents

Would someone else be able to find every document of importance to you? Can you?

Personal data

Name, rank, serial number and a whole lot more – including medical information that could help future generations.

Important names, addresses and phone numbers

A straightforward listing.

Safekeeping: where?

If someone other than your first choice becomes your executor, would he or she know you even have a safety deposit box?

Where are those keys?

A system for identification.

Things of value, sentimental or otherwise

Items with significant resale value tend to be listed in wills – but what about those special knickknacks?

Credit cards and charge accounts

A straightforward list, helpful in settling up. Also, if your card earns rewards, tell your executor.

Accounts with deposit-taking institutions

Overlooked bank accounts result in a harvest of millions for governments.

Securities and investment accounts

Another source of government revenue if your heirs know nothing about them.

Other assets

It’s easy to forget limited partnerships that have paid nothing for so long you want to forget them.

Insurance

Help make insurance less like a lottery, in which you win only if you find the ticket.

Business

Unless your executor knows how to run your business, you’d better leave enough clues for finding the executive washroom at least.

Social Security (US) or SIN (Canada)

Information for which there will be plenty of demand when you’re gone.

Veteran or military benefits

An item easy to forget, especially if you’vet been out for a while.

Survivor or retirement benefits

If you earned ‘em, list ‘em.

Real estate: home

You know how difficult it is to match paint without the code? That’s just one of the things you’ll list here.

Real estate: other

Could be the cottage, could be rental property.

Vehicles: everyday and otherwise

The car in the driveway should be fairly obvious, especially when no one moves it, but what about the boat? It’s all transportation--including that canoe in the bushes by the lake.

Who owes you what?

They got a windfall that might have been unintentional if you don’t tell all here.

Who do you owe?

Fair’s fair! Besides, protect against con men.

Who borrowed what?

"I just know we had a lawnmower!" – the cry of the poorly-informed spouse.

What you borrowed

Fair’s fair again!

Assets snapshot

This and the next item give a thumbnail sketch of your net worth.

Liabilities snapshot

It helps if they’re smaller than your assets!

Fido and Fluffy

Animals are good people!

Just one minute more ... please?

Those special requests we may not want to discuss until we must — and then it may be too late.

Where there’s a will there’s a way

The six who do it right.

Notes for a surviving spouse

Dear Mr. Mailman

A beneficiary’s checklist, and some sample letters to all those people who need to be notified.

Insurance company

Social Security Administration

Veteran’s Administration

Memberships

Employer

Creditors

On a personal note

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