Getting Organized When Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

Being diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or another major illness can be overwhelming.  You may be experiencing sadness, anger, confusion, and many other emotions.  One way to decrease some of your burden is to get organized and put your affairs in order.  I advise my clients and their loved ones to find a system that works for them and ask for help to get the project done.  Your system should allow you and your caregivers to more easily navigate your medical, financial, and legal needs.

Steps to help you and those close to you to get organized:

1. Store all of your important information in one place.  Get a file cabinet or filing system and get a notebook.  Keep all your documents filed.  Use the notebook to keep track of medical, financial, and legal information you may need on the go.
2. Tell someone you trust where all your information is kept.  You never know when someone else may need to step in to assist you or access your information. 
3. Arrange for someone to take over for you if needed in the future.  Complete necessary steps for someone to take over medical, financial, and legal issues if you are unable to do so.  This may include advance directives for healthcare and durable power of attorney for other decisions.

Types of information to gather:
Personal

• Social security number
• Legal residence
• Names and addresses of spouse and children
• Family records (birth and death certificates, certificates of marriage, divorce, citizenship, and adoption)
• Education records
• Military records (or dd-214) if you have them
• Employers and dates of employment
• Union records
• Co-workers names and contact information (it might be helpful to look through Christmas card lists)
• If self-employed any old invoices, receipts, records, etc.
• Names and phone numbers of relatives and close friends

Medical

• List of medical providers names and contact information
• List of current medications and treatments
• Medical records (regarding the cancer)
• Death certificate (if the mesothelioma or lung cancer victim is deceased)
• Pathology report
• Copy of advance directives or durable power of attorney for health care

Financial

• Sources of income and assets (retirement funds, IRAs, 401(k)s, interest, etc.)
• Social Security and Medicare information
• Insurance information (life, health, long-term care, home, car) with policy numbers and agent names and phone numbers
• Banks and account information (checking, savings, credit union)
• Investment income (stocks, bonds, property) and stockbrokers' names and contact information
• Copy of your most recent tax return
• Mortgages and debt (including how and when to be paid)
• Location of original deed of trust for home, car title, and registration
• Location of safe deposit box and key (if applicable)

Legal

• Will, Power of Attorney, Trust or and other legal documents
•  Any records from any other attorney they may have worked with regarding their asbestos exposure