In Case You Get Hit by a Bus: How to Organize Your Life Now for When You're Not Around Later

by Abby Schneiderman, Adam Seifer, Gene Newman

When Abby Schneiderman's brother was killed in a head-on collision by an impaired driver, her family was thrust into a position many families experience: they were shocked, heartbroken, and unsure what to do next. While her brother had made some financial arrangements, her family had no idea what he would have wanted and had to make all sorts of stressful (and expensive) decisions in an incredibly short amount of time.

Out of this tragedy came the focus of Everplans, a digital company that Abby co-founded with fellow tech entrepreneur Adam Seifer to help people of all ages organize their lives and legacy now—so that their loved ones won't have to later.

Drawing on the wealth of experience from Abby, Adam, and Gene Newman, here is a clearly designed and easy-to-follow program to help even the most disorganized reader take control of modern life's burgeoning mess of on- and off-line details. Breaking the job down into three levels, from the most urgent (granting access to passwords, outlining a financial blueprint) to the technical (creating a manual for the systems in your home, understanding legal documents) to the nostalgic (assembling a living memory complete with photos, recipes, and significant stories)), IN CASE YOU GET HIT BY A BUS takes the anxiety and stress out of putting your life in order and covers just about any contingency, helping you leave the best parting gift you could ever imagine.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Reference, Death, Finance, How To, Health

256 pages, Paperback

Published December 22, 2020

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skimmed, rather than read word for word, from cover to cover. This is a very comprehensive book, however I am not quite ready to dive fully into it yet. I plan to round back to it sometime in the future.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that no one wants to read or deal with until they absolutely have to; but when you have to, you should be prepared, and not overwhelmed. This book is the guide or tool to help you accomplish all the tasks almost painlessly. Plus, it does not have to be done all in a few days, you can take a week or even a month to gather all the required information.

This book is readable, well-organized, provides all the important topics, and even checklists! Who does not love a checklist, they are fool proof? The unchecked little box just glares at you until you get it done!

Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer are the cofounders and co-CEOs of Everplans.com, that help people of all ages organize their lives and legacy now— so that their loved ones will not have to have to later. Everything is clearly designed and easy-to-follow, to help even the most disorganized reader take control of modern life’s burgeoning mess of on- and off-line details. (paraphrasing mine)

Here is a Summary of the Checklist of Main Topics:
LEVEL 1
❑ Organize Passwords & Codes
❑ Compile all the Money You Have
❑ Create a Home Operating System
❑ Organize Contacts
LEVEL 2
❑ Get Your Legal Docs Done
❑ Look into Creating a Trust
❑ Write a Letter of Last Instructions
❑ Compile all the Money You Owe
❑ Get a Handle on All Your Insurance
❑ Construct Your Personal Medical Journal
❑ Create Your Advance Directive
❑ Make a Digital Estate Plan
❑ Name a Digital Executor
LEVEL 3
❑ Gather up All Your Physical Memories
❑ Fill Out an Ethical Will
❑ Write Blurbs and Letters /Make Videos for Loved Ones
❑ Pre-Plan Your Funeral
❑ Write Your Own Obituary

If you have known anyone who has faced this unfortunate situation suddenly, then you know how important it is to be prepared with all this information. I include myself in this process as well. I highly recommend this book.


Thank you to Netgalley, and Workman Publishing

[Rosemary Reeve]

Comprehensive, almost overwhelming book to help you organize your affairs in preparation for your eventual demise.

Two of the authors are co-founders of Everplans, a digital vault for all the information your family will need after your death, but there is little shilling for their company. Instead, this book is more of a DYI guide to what you should collect, share, clarify, reduce, and convey, and ideas for how to do so.

The book goes far beyond the usual advice on wills, trusts, living wills, and DNRs. It includes helpful information on managing and transferring your digital passwords and presence; tips for pruning your material possessions to lighten the load on your heirs; guidance for leaving effective departing words; and ways to elicit information from your loved ones about their planning.

The time estimates for each task seemed significantly underestimated, and it would have been more centering for me if the checklist at the back of the book had been at the front. But I learned a great deal from this book and think it would be helpful for people at any stage of life. Even if you're not trying to leave a good last impression, it is always calming and empowering to have your financial and personal affairs in order.

Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Steff Fox · Rating 3 out of 5]

| Read on Reader Fox |


It's (really) your funeral...

You know, after finishing Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer's In Case You Get Hit By a Bus, I realized something. There's a reason why all of this stuff is usually handled by professionals. As monumentally beneficial it is to be aware of all this information, it is extremely overwhelming. Quite frankly, the first chapter alone, on passwords, of all things, was a huge undertaking.

Death is Stressful

I really don't think there's any other way to put it. Even before you're dead, your death is stressful. This is probably why a lot of people put off thinking about it. And honestly, I'm only a few years shy of 30. By all accounts, I shouldn't really need to think about this for a long time now. But, when it comes down to it, accidents happen.

And, much to my personal dismay, there is a lot involved with figuring out what comes next after a person dies. I'm honestly annoyed as hell about the finances involved. Frankly, I think it should be simple and not require family members to pay anything; but then, I'm honestly of the mind that graveyards are a waste of space and the only reasonable use of a body after death is donation to science. So, I recognize that I'm probably in the minority here. That said, the conclusion I've come to is that death is a stressful and, unfortunately, expensive time for a lot of people.

And, theoretically, this book is supposed to make it easier.

My Experience

For me, this book was overwhelming. I moved from one topic to the next reading this in perhaps the worst way possible: like I'd read a novel.

Let's just say, the way to get through this book isn't to just read through it. You're gonna want to pause periodically every couple of pages or chapters to go back, reread, and work through the topics. And I'll be honest, I didn't really feel like doing that when I read this book. As it is, when I sat down to simply compile all my passwords together I just about started screaming in frustration. And yeah, this is probably a sign that I should do what the book says and get a password manager.

Regardless, as I said before, there's a reason you get other people involved in setting up all this after-death planning stuff. There's simply so much involved that you can't get through it without some stress and help from others. Which, brings me to the entire purpose of this book: promoting their website.

Everplans

So, the authors of this book also run a website called Everplans. This website basically breaks down sections of the book into a format that allows you to input all of this information in one place for the people you leave behind to have easy access. You go through organized lists of the very concepts in this book. I'll say this much, the website is much less overwhelming. The problem? It costs $75 a year. And part of me very seriously wonders if that's worth the price.

In the end, I'm left feeling overwhelmed, disappointed that the easier option requires a subscription fee, and not at all ready to tackle my death plan. But, admittedly, part of that is influenced by my own inability to find time for other important things in my life. Adding this on right now would just be incredibly difficult.

Ultimately, I think the book is a decent one. And it's certainly something that you'll have to tackle in pieces. And you'll probably want to do it with a partner. But, I dunno...next time, I think I'd want a book with pages I can fill out the information into rather than relying on the companion website that I don't want to pay for.

I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

| Reader Fox Links |

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author covers everything in this book!! Not only wills, funeral plans, and the seriously important access to online passwords, but so much more. Who will care for your pets and what information will they need? What household items are on a monthly shipping plan? What stuff should be destroyed without reading? Also things I never would have thought of such as a list of established and trusted doctors in case one is still alive but needs specialized treatment. And it's all written in a very "real" and pleasant tone with appropriate humor and wonderful examples including family recipes and frameworks for leaving a "farewell letter" and other personal writings for survivors.

Everyone needs this. I need to go through and do most of this stuff!

[Ell · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so important to understand the ripple effects of death, be it your own death or preparing a loved one for his or her eventual passing. This book is truly THE book to address concerns, legalities and the organization needed to make this sad but certain event less difficult and less stressful. This book is comprehensive, practical, and indispensable. From estate panning to living wills to DNRs to passwords to navigating insurance and a plethora of personal affairs…it’s all in here. The checklists are handy.

[Mrs C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Add another fun and practical book from Workman publishing. This is an extremely thorough checklist that goes way beyond making sure your affairs are in order for loved ones left behind. No-one likes to think about morbid stuff, but thanks to this book, you’ll be distracted with all the myriad ways you can prepare for when your time is up. Gosh, did I say thorough? This is a must read for type A personalities for peace of mind.

Thanks to the publisher for letting me read early.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is essential. I borrowed a copy from my library but I’m going to purchase my own copy to keep on hand.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful! There’s so much to do before you leave this planet. Starting with destroying any potentially embarrassing love letters from the past.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me a lot to think about and put into action. It’s a bit overwhelming to process but I appreciated the steps and plans of action provided by the authors. The humor throughout helped too. I recommend this book to anyone. Life can be long but it can also be quite short, best to alleviate some responsibility/tough decisions for your loved ones whenever the time comes.

[Yaaresse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reasonably helpful for what it is. Took me a while to get through it because it's basically a lot of to-dos with a lot of chit-chat in between. Probably most useful for folks who have minor children, lots of relatives, and pets or strong feelings about memorial services/funeral arrangements.

Has some good suggestions for those who do most of their banking, shopping, bills or subscriptions on the phones or laptops so that one doesn't lock survivors out of access to bank accounts, paying the utility bills, etc.

[Kady · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very handy book to have to get your affairs in order. Would recommend the hard copy vs the ebook, just so you can reference parts easier.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-purchase for anyone wanting to ensure all of their affairs will be neat and tidy upon their demise.

More to come.

[Online Eccentric Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/

I have to say, I am truly amazed at all the things I would have overlooked had I not read this book. I have already gone through the sudden deaths of loved ones and the chaos that ensues - and now I wonder all that I had missed in terms of putting things in order as well as how much easier things would have been had things been taken care of beforehand. This book is sympathetically written, easy to follow, has great action plans and checklists, and a wealth of information on this very hard subject.

The book is broken down into three major topics: Start with your stuff (passwords, people, money, and your home); Assemble the pieces (trusts, wills, health care, and your digital matrix); Finishing touches (memorabilia, letters, funeral planning, and obituaries).

There were so many good topics in here: e.g., how best to store/save passwords so that your phone, ipad, computer, etc., can be accessed/used and don't need to be thrown away. But there are other considerations such as diaries and saved letters - do you really want your family to read those private love letters you wrote to someone in the past? Of course, it covers the usual needed items such as wills, writing your own obituary, and ensuring that children understand how you would like items distributed.

Death is probably one of the hardest subjects to discuss with family but if you don't, you could leave them in a very bad situation of having to do so much work to put your affairs in order while also grieving your loss. This book is a one-stop shop that is nicely presented, has great checklists and action lists to keep you focused on the topic, and a very friendly and encouraging tone that makes it so much easier. Reviewed from an advance reader copy provided by the publisher.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Case You Get Hit By a Bus is described as a “step-by-step program for getting your life in order, so you’re prepared for the unexpected.” Written by the people responsible for Everplans, a company that specializes in “digital life planning,” it includes three general areas. The first is “urgent,” and is excellent at itemizing the truly essential things that someone will need right after you get hit by that bus: things like passwords. They have specific recommendations, including several password managers (including Dashlane, which I use and love). The second general area is the “technical,” which extensively outlines how to create a manual for the systems in your home (who should be called if the A/C stops working?). It is exhaustive and incredibly useful. The third area is nostalgic, including things like how to assemble a living memoir, write your own obituary, etc .

The odds of getting hit by a bus are 495,000 to 1, but the odds that you are going to die? Yes! Everyone needs to do some planning, I would expect. Not too long ago, my husband and I were involved in untangling the affairs of his parents and my aunt following their passing. Fortunately, all had wills, which helped a LOT. My aunt had planned everything so that things went very smoothly. But we realized the amount of STUFF that needs to be handled as part of this process, and since we have no children, we thought “who is going to have to take care of everything after we are gone?” We spent a lot of time creating a trust, etc etc etc. I actually thought we had things fairly well covered. But reading this book made me realize we still have a lot to take care of.

The idea is that if you follow the guidelines this book, you will end up with a system for managing passwords and secret codes, your money and assets (including bills and debts) will be organized, you will understand medical directives, wills, powers of attorney, and trusts, and you will at least have THOUGHT about what to do with photos, recipes, and family heirlooms. It isn’t something that is easy to talk about or deal with, but if you have been through it after someone passes, you know what a help this kind of planning can be. Yes, they are trying to sell subscriptions to Everplans, but it definitely isn’t required, and any steps you can take as a result of reading this will help whoever after you are gone. Five stars

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because one of my favorite sayings is, "what if I get his by a bus?" I mean things need to be in order so someone can pick up where I've left things if I was to be no more. My boss has forbidden me saying this any more, but then this book came out and I couldn't resist.

This is a great book about being prepared when you or people you love die. I think we all know there are certain things we should have when that time comes, like a will, for instance. After that, I was somewhat in the dark. Thank goodness for the common sense spelled out perfectly in this book.

I like the tone of the book. It is a difficult subject, but one we all need to talk about. The author writes with humor and authority, making this very accessible. There are also tests in the chapters to see how prepared you are (and to make you realize how very UNprepared you may be).

In the first chapter, the reader is given 10 minutes to locate important documents: social security card, driver's license, marriage/divorce paperwork, birth certificate, etc. It may be eye-opening to realize the things you don't have ready access to. Another chapter shines light on the importance of someone you trust having access to your passwords since we keep so much of our lives somewhere in the ether.

Really good, really accessible, easy to understand - I couldn't ask for a better way to start a difficult conversation.

My thanks to Workman Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly covers everything! Having recently gone through my father‘s passing and all of the things he thought he had done to prepare or made simple, we found out it really wasn’t that prepared or simple. There are still so many things to consider, legal matters to go through, and finances to talk about when all you really want to do is grieve. Going through this book and getting everything set up ahead of time will hopefully make things better for the rest of our families. Highly recommend.

[Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic! It's definitely not easy to face the inevitable and get everything sorted, but the authors have done a great job combining necessary information anddifferent options to choose from. The content is set up in a way it makes sense and the illustrations throughout the book make it a bit more "fun" to work through it.
I can highly recommend this to anyone who'd like to be prepared and organised in case you get hit by a bus.

[Rima · Rating 3 out of 5]

An informative and helpful book. The checklist should have been at the beginning. This goes beyond the usual preparation type book because it guides on how to manage a digital foot print as well. Would recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Lisa Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is not that hard to put your life in order so that family and friends can concentrate on grieving instead of cursing if you should meet an untimely end. Or even a timely end. Written in a breezy, accessible style it is good advice. You might even want to pass a copy along to someone else who has been pretending that nothing bad will ever happen.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of useful information presented in a well organized book. It’s not overwhelming. I've already borrowed this book twice from the library, since I didn’t get to read it all the first go round. No matter your age, these steps are necessary to protect your assets and your information. I recommend this book.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't finish this book, but I'm planning on buying it so my husband and I can systematically work through these things together.

I strongly believe almost everyone needs to read this or something like this and I'm wondering if I could give this to my parents without offending them. Conversations about aging and death are unwelcome, but also at least one of those is inevitable. I hope when my time comes, my family is free to grieve without the additional stress of organizing my loose ends!

[Pat Watt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great down-to-earth reminder of all the things that those we leave behind will want/need to know. If you leave this world well organized, your dear ones will be forever grateful.

[Kama · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appear to be in pretty good shape but was able to identify a few areas to work on.

[ScottG · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s nothing that truly new here but what it does offer is a comprehensive list of how to plan for when you won’t be around anymore. While targeted to an American audience the guide is still useful enough for Canadians.

[Carol Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not ready for Swedish Death Cleaning yet, but I learned a lot from their practical & easy to read advice. I’ve implemented many of their suggestions & am more organized.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thankfully not as dark as I feared given the subject matter

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this book! So very practical and very humorous. The authors have thought of it all.

I listened to it, as well as read a physical copy because there are so many great lists, website links. But the humor really shines through with the narrator. She was great with the tongue-in-check quips.

I will definitely re-read the physical copy again and again, and probably check it out 1-2 times a year. Yes, it's that good, and well thought out. I'll probably even buy a copy, and give it as gifts to everyone... :)

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to the authors for writing a book about a tough subject and making it both readable and comprehensive. This is a book many of us could use as we plan for our lives and deaths.

[Sara Temba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't read every word but the book was very helpful in giving the reader an idea of the work that needs to happen. It made me very glad we already use a password manager and YNAB for finances which means a lot of the work is done. Highlighted a lot of other things to work on.