If the Loved One is dying from a disease or injury that takes time, he or she may worry about whether their Estate has been put in proper order. If a Will, Trust, Power of Attorney or Health Care Directive have not yet been made, they can still be done as long as the person is mentally competent to do so and as long as there is not any undue influence by a family member or friend.

Some families have developed (usually over generations) the practice of talking to the dying person about what he or she wants done about funeral and burial arrangements and about his or her property. On the other hand, in some families, such discussions are taboo.

Whatever your family tradition, a family spokesperson should be designated by the Loved One or by the family to attend to the final affairs of the dying person. Here are Ten Things every such "personal representative" should know about the Loved One.:

1. The date and place of his or her birth.
2. His or her social security number.
3. The children of the dying person from all marriages and other relationships.
4. Location of the Will or Trust documents.
5. Location of the safe deposit box.
6. Location and account numbers of all bank accounts, certificates of deposit and the like.
7. Location of all insurance policies and policy numbers (including fraternal and paid-up policies).
8. Location of stocks, bonds and other securities and account numbers.
9. Location of all real estate and Property Identification (PID) Numbers.
10. Veteran's identification numbers (if any).
    

Armed with this information, the personal representative can get Estate matters concluded with the greatest efficiency and with the least family disruption.