The sudden death of a close relative leaves everyone shocked and deeply saddened. Just organising the funeral can seem like an impossible task. Later, trying to find personal papers - the will, bank accounts etc - becomes just that, impossible, because the surviving spouse or family has no idea where to look. The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland (ICAI) has just brought out an extremely useful Personal Affairs Checklist (PAC), a seven-page A4 pamphlet which would be a record of where your personal records, assets and papers are and your bankers, financial advisers etc. The president of the ICAI, Mr Pierce Kent has urged consumers to make a new year resolution and complete the checklist. "Over the years, many of our members have had to work for months with families and relatives, sorting through the deceased's papers trying to make sure that all their policies and accounts were tracked down.

"Often, people simply forget about a particular insurance policy and some bank or post office account which they opened years ago. Indeed, many dormant bank accounts lie untraced for years."

The PAC is organised into three sections. Section A would give urgent information on key advisers, such as accountant, solicitor, undertaker and others. It would note the location of your will, grave plot (if any) and any funeral arrangements you may prefer. It would also note whether you have made a living will, any medical research bequests you have made, how you want your pets to be cared for and where your deed or safe box and keys can be found. Section B would cover financial affairs and would identify bank accounts, insurance policies, pensions and other assets, including credit cards etc. Section C would cover other general information such as employment details, any directorships you may hold, club memberships etc and the people who should be contacted in the event of your death.

A pamphlet like this is invaluable, but some people will be appalled at the idea of facilitating such an orderly departure from this life. Unfortunately, such people are too often the ones who also believe that buying life insurance and making a will is somehow courting an early death. The only ones to suffer, however, are the dependants they leave behind.

For a free copy of the Personal Affairs Checklist, contact the ICAI at 87-89 Pembroke Road, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 668 0400.