What are things to consider taking care of before you die?

Obvious stuff like having a will

Something less obvious: with two-factor authentication becoming fairly standard across web logins, make sure your spouse/executor/beneficiary/whoever is able to get into your phone. Otherwise at a minimum you're forcing them to spend hours on the phone for each account just to be able to log in, and possibly MUCH more hassle like waiting on a death certificate and snail mail and all sorts of shite.

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Morbid yes but we have a friend (early 60s) whose husband (72) died in his sleep Thursday night/Friday morning.

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The solution is to hire an estate lawyer and have him run thru the options for you individually if you can afford it.

Otherwise, your friend will probably be able to answer this question for you based on immediate experience, if you broach it sensitively in 6 months.

If those don't work for you, simply ask your SO to run through what he/she would know to do in that circumstance.
If you were no longer around, how would your SO access your money?
Accounts, Passwords, Points of Contact, etc.
How would your SO transfer assets ... money, house, cars, boat, anything with a title?
What are the tax ramifications?
Are your wishes legally clear?

Then reverse the equation as if your SO passed.
Then address the most difficult situation, both of you go at once. Kids? Would they have a clue as to what to do?

If you have a trust, they would.
With a well set forth will they might.
But even wills or trusts can lead to "How come he gets GrandMa's silver" or "Why does 'she' get Mama's engagement ring?"

Delete your browser history and saved pictures, and write a good will

Thanks for the serious replies. I literally was afraid to go to sleep (dumb as hell, I know) this weekend ... I'm more afraid of him dying before me just because BUT I'm more worried about him if I die than myself if HE dies.

Again, thanks for the responses .. there are basics and then there are things that some here might have run into personally/professionally that might have info to offer.

I do this planning for a living. Few things you should definitely do:

(1) Get the basic estate planning documents done (power of attorney, health care surrogate, etc.)

(2) Depending on your state you do not want to just use a simple will to do your planning. Especially if you own property. Will = probate = courts = very expensive in a lot of states. And time consuming. I make more money off of probate than anything else. By far.

(3) Make a list of all passwords, accounts, etc. and keep them in a safe place (like a safe). Include anything someone would need to know if you and your spouse got hit by a bus.

(4) There are a number of easy techniques to ensure that assets are protected from a lawsuit. Umbrella insurance works well. The attorney you meet with should cover this during your meeting.

If a will leads to probate, what the heck happens if there isn’t a will?

Probate. Probate with a will just means you died testate. Often times it ends up being the same result with a will or no will (all to kids).

Make sure you add beneficiaries to all of your assets. Do not make them co owners. These assets will skip the will /probate and go straight to your beneficiaries

Start with an attorney for a will

Don’t leave your heirs giant bags of shite to hold. Take care of any issues related to any gifts so that they aren’t blindsided. I have seen brothers stop speaking, wives lose companies that they believed they owned, and liabilities heirs had no idea were coming their way. Communicate while you can.