Making A Personal File 
By Jean E. Miller 

The referenced article (below) talks about a lady who was facing death with cancer and she was worried about her family knowing certain things she wanted done in case she died. She created a thing called the 'Uh Oh File'" which contained practical information as well the personal details like "I want John Tavernas' Hallelujah played at my funeral to an array of things." Or, "Who I want to write my obituary" and all the notes for it.

A simple notebook containing this information can be a valuable gift to your family. Just make a folder (or notebook) called "UhOh File" or "My Personal File" and jot down some important information to help your family. Somethings you could put in there would be: 

Forms You Can Use 
Here are a few forms from the Resource page to get you started: 
Personal Records 
Valuable Records 
Where to Find My Important Papers 

Sections To Include 
Should include things like your name, maiden name, address, social 
security number, etc. to identify who you are. It would probably help 
to write something that says 

"This is the personal file of (fill in your name) and contains things 
I would like done in case of an emergency or my death." 

and leave a place for you to sign it and someone to witness your 
signature. After then, no one needs to be looking into your file unless 
you want them to! 

Using one of those notebooks with sleeves for sticking documents, etc. 
would probably work best. 

Some things to consider including are: 

DNR * 
DNR (do not resuscitate order) if you have a one, put it there. If not 
write a few words how you feel about extra ordinary measures being 
taken to extend your life if your heart stopped for any reason. If you 
don't have one ask your doctor or local hospital for one to fill out that 
reflects your state laws. To see a sample of one 
Click here for sample DNR form 

DNR Bracelet 
Or, you can get a bracelet with DNR on it to wear. This would be a med 
alert bracelet and those must include your name and address, and the 
name and telephone number of your attending physician. Ask your doctor 
or local hospital where you can get one of these. They cost about $35 for 
stainless steel, and up to $115 for silver thru MedicAlert. Click here to 
see the emblems used in MedicAlert braclets: Emblems 

Living Will - Hopefully you have one, stick it in the folder. If you don't 
have one ask your doctor or local hospital for one to fill out that reflects 
your state laws or see Download State Specific Documents. 

Health Care Surrogate ** - If you weren't able to make your own 
decisions, who would you want to be allowed to make them for you? 
This person should know you and understand your wishes about medical 
treatments. He or she can only make decisions if you became unable to do 
so yourself. 

If you don't have a form ask your doctor or local hospital for one to fill out 
that reflects your state laws or to get a sample click above. 
To read about any changes or alerts on your State's advance directives go 
to this site for updates: State changes 

Financial Documents-Hiding Places 
•	If someone else isn't on your checking, savings, stocks, bonds, 
etc. you may want to consider adding their name. 
•	If nothing else, write down all the things you have and 
where to find them (yes, even those hidden "mad money" 
bankbooks). 
•	Also write down any credit cards you may have and who 
to contact. Any debts (places you owe money to) who 
maybe contacting the family? 

Personal Papers To Be Included 
Marriage, birth and divorce certificates, life insurance policies, etc. 
should all be in a lock box somewhere but if they're hidden in a 
candy-box under your bed, be sure to note where they can be found! 
Some insurance and other facilities/people might need copies of 
these after you're gone. 

Obituary-What Do You Want In It?
Not a pleasant subject but we've all read them and some are 
pretty dull. If you want anything special about your life included 
in your own obit, write it down so someone will know what to 
put in the papers. 

•	If you have a favorite picture of yourself you want used, 
put one in this section of your file too. 
•	Also the names of special family members. To include friends and 
anything outside the immediate family will become a "paid" obit 
and have an extra cost with any newspaper. 
•	Also, make sure you say where you would like any donations 
made too. Newspapers require a release from that organization 
to include their address. 

People You Want Contacted 
Yes, your family probably knows the immediate people to contact. 
But, do you have an old friend or others you want to know if you 
have died? Include their name and how to get in contact with them. 

What about your on-line friends or support groups? Include a list 
of who they are, their email addresses, etc. so that someone can 
send a message from your computer to them. You may even want 
to wrtie the note, yourself, that you want sent. 

Funeral Arrangements-Your Last Wishes
•	Do you want a funeral? A viewing? 
•	Or maybe just a Memorial Service where people get together 
to honor and remember the good things in your life? Or both? 
•	How about music? Any favorite songs you'd like played? 
•	Do you have a favorite flower? 
•	For a Memorial Service, any favorite place you'd like it to be held? 
•	How about a lasting memorial - would you want a tree or 
something like that planted in your name? 
•	Or how about a bench with a favorite (short) quote to 
be engraved on it? 

Write all these things down here in your file.

Will 
Sorry this should be done by an attorney. Just make SURE a copy 
of your will is in your file too! 

What you can write down in your file is who you want to get special 
things you own. This can help defray some possible bickering among 
relatives after you've gone (not that your family would bicker). 

In conclusion

Remember: 

•	Advance directives and living wills are not complicated 
legal documents. They can be short, simple statements 
about what you want done or not done if you can't 
speak for yourself.
•	Anything you write by yourself or with a computer software 
package should follow your state laws. The orders should 
be notarized if possible, and a copy should be given to your 
family and your doctor. 

I hope this summary of some of the forms contained on this 
website was of some help to you. I know making all of these 
plans before the time of need was a tremendous help to me 
when my Mom and daughter died. 

Love, 
Jean 

* Commonly used life-support measures 
To read about commonly used life-support measures like Artificial 
Nutrition (feeding tubes), CPR or Mechanical ventilation, and what 
they mean when you write you either want them or not in your 
living will, click the following page, then go down to about the 
middle of the page. Commonly Used Life Support Measures 

** The Health Care Surrogate 
If you are someone's Health Care Surrogate, or want to 
find out a surrogate's responsibilities, click on following: 
Responsibilities of A Health Care Surrogate 

Referenced Article 
The idea for this article came from the following source: 
"A Good Death-Part I Facing The Fear" www.ivanhoe.com

All the forms referenced on this document can be found on Our Final Journey website (these clix.to/FinalJourney)