Pass Along Book

That's where the Pass Along book comes in. It's different than a will and it's more than just a list of passwords.

There are sentimental pass along books that are of kind of like a diary or journal but that are meant to be read by others. It might contain long family traditions, old stories, new stories (that in generations hence will become old), family recipes that you don't want dying with you (or maybe you do), and anything else you can think up.

But for our purposes today, in this article, we're discussing the more technical, sober nature of the pass along book.

I want you to ponder this for a few minutes: If you carked it unexpectedly, like any moment now, could any of your next-of-kin step in and make sense of your affairs? Could they access your phone? Your email? Your usernames and passwords for all the important online accounts you may have? Such as your bank, brokerage accounts, access to life insurance, credit cards, etc.?

Probably not.

The Pass Along Book itself

The pass along book is a living document, updated as necessary. Because it's a living document, it'll be a lot easier to maintain if you create it using a word processor. Any word processor will do, even Google Docs, which is free.

Every time you update the book, you'll print it out, put it in the agreed-upon safe place, and discard the old one. Shred it if you can.

You probably won't need to update the book all that often because the document will describe how to find the most recent electronic copy of the remaining information.

What to include in the printed pass along book

First of all, a few words of comfort for your next-of-kin that will be reading this. If you want your next-of-kin to proof read your book then you might omit this section from the book, saving it in another file for the time being. Once everything is proofed then you can consider adding your words of comfort.

Next, include a sufficiently detailed narrative of everything that your next-of-kin needs to know. By narrative, I mean let the muse run free, describing any possibly peculiar information about each item. The more details the better! Assume they know nothing. And since you'll be pushing up daisies by now, they can't exactly ask any questions.

You only need to include the credentials (username and passwords) and full details for the more important things in the book -- things that other people need to know. If you're like most people, you probably have many dozens of online accounts for random things. Most of them would likely be of no importance to your estate. But that's only if you have a separate password book or manager. If you don't, you need to create one. The pass along book is not a password manager!

Your book might include:

• Last revision date located at the top
• Phone PIN, including Apple (or Google Play) ID and password.
• Tablet PIN, if you have one
• Password (and PIN if there is one) to your computer, be it desktop, laptop, or both
• Primary email address and password
• Name of bank, login username, password, and any other secret words your bank might require
• Name of each credit/debit card: Include all card details including bank name and customer service numbers
• Name and policy number of life, auto, and home insurance, and their contact info
• Location (folder and file name) of the electronic copy of your book on your computer
• Name and contact info of attorney, if you have one, and where to find a copy of your will

If you use a dedicated password manager, like 1Password, include all the instructions necessary for your next-of-kin to gain access. Keep in mind they are probably not familiar with how it works. So be detailed.

If you simply use a written notebook for your passwords, fine, be sure to make reference to it in the book, including where its located. Similarly, make sure your password book or manager is up to date and makes sense. If your password management system is a collection of sticky notes and random scraps of paper, you need to fix that now. Yes, now.

If any of your online accounts, including your email and bank, has Multi-Factor Authentication setup, make sure the code can be obtained by your next-of-kin. Usually it goes to your phone as a text message. Sometimes there's a dedicated phone app like Google Authenticator. Describe all that in the book. There's no such thing as too many details.

Who needs a pass along book?

Everybody! That's who. Shit happens. You never know when you'll go. We all hope to live a long time but that's not always the case. By having your book sorted, your next-of-kin will have an easier time dealing with the consequences of your passing.

You need a will, too. Probate without a will (intestate) can be a big PITA. Don't saddle your next-of-kin with all that.

And while you're at it, a preneed funeral plan isn't a bad idea, either. Less pain for those you leave behind and less chance of the funeral home railroading your grieving next-of-kin into a needlessly costly funeral.

Or, heck, consider donating your carcass to science! I mean, you'll not be needing it anymore. What's more, many institutions will cover much of the post-death expenses.