I'm so grateful that my Mom was proactive about estate planning after my father died. Even though these things were in the back of mind, I didn't want to "plan" for my mother passing away. As an only child, it was important that I had all the info I needed. She put my name on all her bank accounts and worked with a lawyer to put together a book to help me with all the things I wasn't aware of after she passed away. And it prompted my in-laws to get organized for their children.