Inheritance and Crisis Plan: 5 Tips for the Bereaved (Part 2)

In the first part, we covered liquidity, the role of survivors, and document traceability. In this part, we’ll add two areas that cause the most confusion in practice: business affairs and digital access (passwords, emails, services, bank accounts). We’ll also briefly explain how we create an inheritance and contingency plan without unnecessary legal jargon, and include a clear checklist you can go through today.

Blind spot 4: Business – no one has a mandate (and the family is under pressure)

How it shows up:
Decision-making stalls, partners need signatures, employees are waiting for instructions, obligations continue running. The family often doesn’t know who is authorized to act or what is risky to sign. In the worst case, something gets signed under pressure that unnecessarily binds the survivors or harms the company.

How we address it in collaboration:
We document “who is who”: companies, roles, partners/executives, accountants, key contacts. The plan includes simple instructions for the first days: who to contact, what to secure, and what not to sign without consultation. If legal structuring is needed (e.g. representation, business continuity), we coordinate it with a lawyer/notary.

Blind spot 5: Digital access – passwords, email, accounts, services

How it shows up:
Contracts and invoices can’t be located, services keep running with no one able to cancel them, the family cannot access important information. In business, it’s even more sensitive: email can be the key to accounting, client communication, and bank notifications.

How we address it in collaboration:
We apply the principle “secure but practical”: where the password manager is, where the master access (key) is stored, and who knows how to find it if needed. We separate what should be immediately accessible (e.g. accountant contact, list of services) from what should remain protected.

How we create an inheritance plan (without legal jargon)

For a plan to be useful, it must be understandable for the family and based on real information. The process is straightforward:

1. Mapping assets and liabilities: accounts, investments, real estate, insurance, loans, operating contracts. Goal: a clear overview of “what exists.”
2. Family goals: who to protect, how the household should function in the first weeks, what should happen to the business.
3. Risks and blind spots: liquidity, access, roles, documents, digital area.
4. Scenarios: what happens “day 1 / week 1 / month 1” – so the family has a process, not just a list.
5. Coordination with a lawyer/notary: where legal steps are needed (will, document custody, business setup).
6. Maintenance: updates after major changes (child, marriage/divorce, mortgage, new business, significant assets).

What the client prepares:
A list of assets and liabilities, contracts (or at least where they are), and contacts for key people (bank, insurance, accountant, property manager, partners).

What we do:
We turn the information into a clear overview, add logic for “what to do immediately,” highlight risks, and prepare materials for the lawyer/notary where appropriate.

Mini case study

Situation:
An entrepreneur with multiple contracts; the family “knows something exists,” but information is scattered.

Problem:
Without a plan, the family would spend weeks searching for documents and access. The company would face stress around signatures and operational decisions. There’s a risk of rushed decisions under pressure.

Solution:
A list of documents and contacts, clear instructions for the first days (including “what not to sign”), and structured access and representation setup coordinated with a lawyer.

Outcome:
Faster orientation, fewer mistakes, calmer communication with institutions and partners. The family doesn’t have to improvise.

Key takeaways

• In business, it’s crucial to clearly define “who acts” and “what not to sign.”
• Digital access is just as important today as a physical binder of contracts.
• The best plan is concise, traceable, and understandable for the family.
• We handle structure, practicality, and scenarios; the lawyer/notary handles legal steps.
• Reviews make sense after every major change in family or assets.

Essential checklist

1. List of accounts (personal and business) + owner/authorized person
2. List of liabilities (mortgages, loans, leases) + contract numbers
3. Insurance policies + where they are stored
4. Investments (bank/broker/platform) + contact and access
5. Real estate: title deed / loans / insurance / property manager
6. Household service contracts (utilities, internet, mobile)
7. Business: roles, partners/executives, accountant, key contacts
8. Digital: password manager / where the key is / billing emails / key services
9. “Who handles what” in the family (coordinator + backup)
10. Where the plan is stored (online/at home/with a notary)  

You can send your advisor a list of assets and current contracts (or at least their location) and arrange a review of your inheritance and contingency plan. The goal is that your family doesn’t have to improvise when it matters most. A financial advisor can help with structuring and organizing information, but legal arrangements should always be handled with a lawyer/notary based on your specific situation.

The Contingency/Inheritance Plan is a paid service that you can order as a one-time engagement or as part of a Service Advisory package.