Savvy Senior: How to get your affairs in order

Overwhelmed Senior

DEAR OVERWHELMED: Organizing your important papers and personal information is a smart move and a great gift to loved ones. Here are tips to help you get started.

The first step in getting your affairs in order is to gather your important personal, financial and legal information so you can arrange it in a format that will benefit you now, and your loved ones later.

Then you'll need to create lists of important information and instructions of how you want certain things handled when you die or if you become incapacitated. Here's a checklist of areas you need to focus on.

Contacts: Make a master list of names and phone numbers of close friends, family, clergy, doctors and professional advisers such as your lawyer, accountant, broker and insurance agent.

Personal documents: Include birth certificate, Social Security card, marriage license, military discharge papers, etc.

Secured places: List all the places you keep under lock and key or protected by password, such as safe deposit boxes, safe combination, security alarms, etc.

Service providers: Provide contact information of the companies or people who provide you regular services such as utility companies, lawn service, etc.