When it is your time to go, it is incumbent upon you to have made some preparations for the eventuality. In our culture and time, people do certain things to get ready for this time. Here are the four things that you must have in order to prepare to die.
Life Insurance. Hopefully, you have taken the time to get a policy that covers you in the event of you death. The debate between a term life policy and a whole life or cash value policy keeps going, but suffice it to say that the reason for life insurance is to help keep your demise from being an overwhelming financial burden for your family. A good life insurance policy pays out, upon your death, an amount that can be used in getting out of debt and fund future major expenses in life, such as college. You should have at least two times your income in your policy amount, but more is certainly not out of the question.
A Will. Preparing a will to show where you want money or other items distributed is mandatory. Think about the incredible stress that can be imposed by not having a will and forcing everyone to deal with the state when it comes to trying to obtain what you have left behind. The last thing that you want to do is to make life more difficult when you die. The funeral and all of the expenses thereof will be enough to handle.
Burial plot. It might seem easy to debate this one, but it also comes along with having a will (although the two are separate items). Those who prepare for their death by having a burial plot picked out (or cremation orders set) and paid for are doing their families a favor. Not that it is that difficult, but rather it is one less thing to have to worry about.
Finally, you must prepare to meet your maker. Yes, the religion question is an important one. Not just for you, but it is a big one for family, too. Being a religious person does not necessarily mean that you attend Church every Sunday (although it is a good idea), but rather that you have a sense of what the end of life on earth will bring for you and that you have considered it wise to ask about God and if He really does care about you and where you end up for eternity. Even if you are atheist, or an agnostic, would it not be a good idea to entertain the idea that you might be wrong?
Preparing for life without you is a solemn thing to consider. At least be kind enough to others and make plans to leave this world in better shape than when you arrived.
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