Let’s be honest: nobody likes talking about death. It’s the ultimate dinner party conversation killer. But as I recently discussed on Cape Talk, ignoring the practical side of passing away doesn’t protect our families from pain—it actually adds to their burden.
Most of us feel responsible because we have a Last Will and Testament. We think, “Great, I’ve sorted my assets, the house is covered, and the life insurance is in place.” And while that is incredibly important, there is a massive gap between what your lawyer knows and what your family actually needs on Day 1.
We call this the “Life Admin Gap.” And as highlighted in this recent feature by Eyewitness News (EWN), closing that gap is one of the kindest things you can do for the people you love.
Why a Will Isn’t Enough
A Will is a legal document. It deals with ownership—who gets the house, the car, and the savings. But a Will is also slow. It often takes days or weeks to be read, and months (or years) to be executed.
But life doesn’t stop while the lawyers are working.
- How does your spouse unlock your phone to find your contacts?
- How do they pay the electricity bill if the banking app is on your iPad and they don’t have the PIN?
- Who cancels the Netflix subscription or the gym contract?
- What is the alarm code for the office?
These are the tiny, frustrating details that cause chaos during a time of grief. While your lawyer handles the Will, our In Case of Death Planner handles everything else.
The “Digital Keys” We Forget To Hand Over
In 2025, our lives are almost entirely digital. As I mentioned in the interview, one of the biggest nightmares families face today is Two-Factor Authentication (2FA).
Imagine your partner trying to access your email to find a funeral policy. They guess the password correctly, but then… ping. A code is sent to your phone. But your phone is locked, and they don’t know the passcode. Suddenly, they are locked out of everything.
This isn’t about hiding secrets; it’s about accessibility. If you haven’t written down your phone PIN, your computer login, and your email password in a secure place, you are unintentionally locking your family out of your life.
As Featured on Cape Talk 📻
“It covers practical details often overlooked in traditional estate planning… This is something that you can sit together with your spouse or alone and fill in.”
What Exactly Goes Into a “Death Admin” Folder?
You don’t need to write a memoir. You just need to leave a map. Here are three things you should document tonight:
- The “First 24 Hours” List: Where is the funeral policy? Do you want to be buried or cremated? Who should be notified immediately?
- The Digital Vault: Phone PINs, laptop passwords, and the master password for your password manager.
- The Household Rhythm: What day does the gardener come? How do you pay the school fees? Where is the stopcock for the water?
Let’s be honest: your husband barely knows where the spare duvet covers are kept. Do you really think he can find the Life Insurance policy without help? Don't leave him guessing." 👉 Read the Ultimate Guide to organising your life (and saving his sanity).
A Gift of Peace, Not Doom
I know what you’re thinking. “Karin, this is morbid!”
But actually, it’s the opposite. It’s empowering. Once you write these things down, you stop worrying about them. You can go back to living your life, knowing that if the unthinkable happens, you haven’t left a mess behind—you’ve left a helping hand.
It transforms a time of frantic searching and guessing into a time where your family can focus on what matters: supporting each other and celebrating your memory.
Start Your Planning Tonight
Don’t wait for the “right time”—there never is one. As heard on Cape Talk and EWN, our digital guide is helping South Africans get organised instantly.
Download the ‘In Case of Death’ Planner Now (Instant Access) No shipping required. Download, print, and fill it in today.
