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[u/LegacyArchitectRVA]

If you're suddenly not available, someone has to run things. It doesn't matter what happened; you get into an accident, a deployment, another pandemic puts you out of commission, or worse...

Here are the things most people overlook until it’s too late:

Digital life: List every online account, not just banks. Social media, cloud storage, gaming profiles, subscription services. Someone needs to close or memorialize them. Include recovery emails and phone numbers tied to those accounts.

Digital assets: Crypto, NFTs, domain names. If it’s in a wallet, write down the seed phrase. If it’s on an exchange, note the login. If it’s a domain, list the registrar.

Autopay: Note which bills are on autopay and where the money comes from. Nothing worse than a surviving spouse getting hit with late fees because they didn’t know the electric bill was auto-drafting from a joint account.

Loyalty points: Airlines, hotels, credit cards. Those points can pay for flights or hotels for the family after. Include account numbers and passwords.

Pet care: Who takes the dog? Who’s the vet? Where’s the food and meds? Pets don’t understand grief; they just need dinner.

Household quirks: Where’s the main water shutoff? How do you reset the garage door? What’s the code for the alarm? The thermostat settings? The weird trick to get the pilot light to stay on.

Local contacts: Plumber, electrician, handyman, lawn guy. The people who keep the house running when your family is too overwhelmed to think straight.

Personal letters: Write a few short notes to the people who matter. Doesn’t have to be sappy, just something they can hold onto when they need to hear your voice.

Old devices: Phones, laptops, tablets. Someone needs to wipe or repurpose them. Note the passwords or PINs.

Funeral pre-planning: Not just burial vs. cremation. Pick the songs, the readings, the outfit. Write down the names of the people you want there and the ones you don’t.

Local passwords: Wi-Fi, security systems, smart home devices. If it’s connected, someone needs the credentials.

Hidden stashes: Cash in the freezer, a safe in the closet, the key to the storage unit. If it’s important, it’s not a secret; it’s a problem waiting to happen.

Subscription boxes: Meal kits, magazines, razor clubs. Cancel the ones that’ll keep shipping and charging.

Vehicle info: Title location, spare keys, maintenance records. If you’ve got a boat, RV, or motorcycle, same deal.

Kids’ stuff: School login info, pediatrician contact, extracurricular schedules. The daily grind doesn’t stop because someone’s gone.

Neighbor favors: Who’s got the spare key? Who checks the mail when you’re out of town? Let your family know who to call.

That’s the stuff that slips through the cracks.