Your memory is a funny thing - when you're young you take it for grated that the information is up there when you need it - as we age..not so much.

Birthdays, first steps and the like are very important...but more importantly...you need to write down information that only you know. And you need to encourage your family to do the same.

You may be grateful to have this information on hand someday; not only in case of a death. Temporary memory loss can be caused by something as simple as a reaction to medication!

Take the time to go through the web-sites that you visit often and make a list of the site, password, and user name for each. Include social sites like face book or twitter..if something was to happen to you, your family will need this to cancel your account without having to provide a death certificate. Encourage your children to write down their information too.

Have a discussion with your spouse about where the important papers are and what needs to be done in case of an illness or death. Talk about simple things such as: Do you both know where the checkbook & bills are kept? The pin numbers for your debit cards?

If you are single; you need to write down your information and give it to someone you trust or at least make it known to your family where the information is located.

Make the commitment to get it done.