A tragedy plan is needed when your assets include real estate

READER QUESTION: My husband passed away unexpectedly very recently. He handled all our finances.

We own income property and other assets, but I don’t know where any documents are or how to find them.

I asked for information many times, but he never gave it to me. I don’t know the password to his computer.

Our children live out of the area and cannot help. We have regular bills to pay. What should I do? Can you help?

MONTY’S ANSWER: I am sorry for your loss and your situation.

Here are some actions you can take immediately to provide relief:

Take the computer to a computer repair store, or a store that sells and repairs the brand you own. According to a store I checked with, they can break in about 95 percent of the time.

You may find a list of passwords, an address book, or accounts from which to gather information. If you have a joint credit card, who issued it?

Many people bank online (look in bookmarks and web history) and go paperless. Paperless means no statement in your mailbox.

If they are not joint accounts, you may have to go to the bank in person with an original copy of the death certificate to obtain information.

Bank statements will provide account numbers, payees and amounts paid to identify your vendors. Is there a safety deposit or post office box key on a keychain?

Another good source of data is a title insurance company. These private companies insure the title to all property and have access to your property records. If you have an address, they can tell you which lender holds a mortgage.

If the first two action steps are fruitless, there is someone whom your husband knew that is aware of your finances.

Most likely an accountant, an attorney, a commercial loan officer, or an individual working at a local income tax service.

Recalling a name, a building or place that you can connect him with may help.

Who prepared your annual income tax returns? Do you know any of his friends you can ask for leads?

With some detective work, you will be able to determine the identity of his adviser, or advisers. The hardest part now is making decisions on your own.