How to summarize insurance for your survivors
It may not be a particularly welcome thought, but you generally purchase insurance for when things go wrong, and death is the last thing that will go wrong for you in this life. But the list you make now — and update annually — of your insurance policies can save your loved ones a lot of headaches at a difficult time.
Make copies of a list of all your insurance policies, investments, and bank accounts that includes the following information:
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Policies and type: Umbrella, auto, home, health, dental, disability, and life insurance; and IRA, 401(k), and bank accounts
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The insured item or person
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The issuing company or institution and the policy or account number
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Amount of coverage
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Annual premium
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Agent and contact information
On the same list include, phone numbers for the professionals knowledgeable about your
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Will and legal dealings (write down the location of your will)
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Accountant
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Investment manager or advisors
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Banks and bankers
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Insurance agent
Umbrella insurance checklist
You purchase umbrella insurance so that you’re covered under every contingency. An umbrella policy should also provide coverage for the gap between the value of the insured item and the amount you owe on it. The following table lists basic umbrella coverage every umbrella policy should include:
| Gap Description | What Coverage You Need | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Territory of coverage | Worldwide | Make sure lawsuits outside the U.S. and Canada are covered. |
| Personal injury liability | Libel, slander, false arrest, and so on | Underlying insurance may be required. Be careful. |
| Coverage of newly acquired vehicles, boats, and so on | Automatic, no notice required | Poor policies require notification in 30 days or no coverage. Dangerous! |
| Liability assumed in contracts | Weddings, parties, rentals of all kinds | Poor policies limit coverage to residential contracts only. |
| Punitive damages | Allowed in some states | You could travel in a state that allows them. |
Insurance information to gather at the scene of an auto accident
When you’re in a car accident, it’s easy to forget what information you need — you’re shaken up and rattled. But for your insurance company and that of any other people involved, carry a copy of the following list in your glove compartment so that you get all the information you need to protect yourself and expedite your insurance claim.
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Date and time of accident
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Accident location (take photos if you have a cellphone with a camera)
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Name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number of the driver of the other vehicle
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Injuries (for each person)
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Name, address, and phone number of each witness
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Police department responding, including phone number
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Police case number
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Police officer’s name
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Tickets issued (if any)
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Name, address, and phone number of each passenger in your vehicle
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Name, address, and phone number of each passenger in the other vehicle
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Name, address, phone number, and driver’s license number of the owner of the other vehicle (if different from driver)
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The year, make, model, license plate number, and vehicle identification number (VIN) of the other vehicle
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The insurance company, insurance agent (name and phone number), and policy number of the other vehicle’s driver
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The insurance company, insurance agent (name and phone number), and policy number of the other vehicle’s owner (if different from driver)