Having all of your paperwork up to date and in one place will make it easier if a family member has to help you with financial and legal matters. Important documents might include:
- birth, marriage, divorce and citizenship certificates
- financial documents such as bank and credit card information, details of investments (e.g. shares, funds) or any safe deposit boxes
- Centrelink and Medicare details
- list of social media and other online accounts
- superannuation and insurance information
- loan details (e.g. house, car) and house title/lease documents
- passport
- will
- document appointing a substitute decision-maker
- advance care directive
- funeral information, including any funeral insurance or any prearrangements you have made.
It’s a good idea to check or update who you have nominated as beneficiaries on your superannuation and life insurance policies. Let someone close to you know how to contact your lawyer.
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Dr Megan Ritchie, Staff Specialist Palliative Medicine, Palliative Care Service, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, NSW; Gabrielle Asprey, Cancer Support Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Rosemary Cavanough, Consumer; Louise Durham, Nurse Practitioner, Metro South Palliative Care Service, QLD; Tracey Gardner, Senior Psychologist, Cancer Counselling Service, Cancer Council Queensland; Karen Hall, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council SA; Linda Nolte, Program Director, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC; Rowena Robinson, Clinical Advisor, Palliative Care Australia, ACT; Helena Rodi, Program Manager, Advance Care Planning Australia, VIC.
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