Wall Street Journal: Don't die before leaving your heirs access to a list of your online user names and passwords, your military discharge papers and proof of any copyrights, trademarks and patents that you own.

As we explained in our Weekend Investor article “The 25 Documents You Need Before You Die,” leaving behind a will and an estate plan—and any other end-of-life instructions—isn't enough. You also have to make your heirs aware of them and leave the documents where they can find them.

Letting a trusted family member know that you keep a list of user names and passwords with an attorney or in a safe-deposit box is important not just so they have access to bank accounts or so they can keep up with online payments, as we stated, but also in order to preclude online identity theft. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that nine million Americans are victims of identity theft every year.

Record Online.com: If you or a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer's or another cognitive disease, it is important to meet with an elder law estate planning attorney as soon as possible.

An Alzheimer's diagnosis is shocking and overwhelming to all concerned. Immediate care-giving and medical issues take center stage. But if legal matters are left untended, you risk losing your home and life savings as the disease progresses.

The Lowell Sun: Today, more than ever, charitable institutions stand to benefit as the first wave of the baby boomers reaches the stage where they're able to make significant charitable gifts. If you're like many Americans, you too may have considered donating to charity. And though writing a check at year-end is one of the most common ways to give, planned giving may be more effective.

Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog:  Owning a vacation home in Mexico or retaining Canadian citizenship are just two scenarios that can create complex estate planning and tax issues.  Below are five scenarios that can affect estate planning in a global economy.

1. Owning a home in Mexico

A home in Mexico is likely acquired through a fideicomiso (similar to a trust), and the IRS considers fideicomios to be trusts that are subject to reporting requirements for foreign trusts. As a result, homeowners must file Form 3520 and 3520-A every year to stay in compliance with IRS regulations. Additionally, after March 18, 2010, homeowners who use or let relatives use the home are subject to income tax on the property’s fair rental value. Owners have until August 31, 2011 to come into compliance with the IRS regulations.

Wall Street Journal:   It isn't enough simply to sign a bunch of papers establishing an estate plan and other end-of-life instructions. You also have to make your heirs aware of them and leave the documents where they can find them.

Consider: At least 10 states have been investigating whether some of the country's largest insurers are failing to pay out unclaimed life policies to beneficiaries. California and Florida have held public hearings on the issue in recent weeks.

Yahoo! Finance:  Surprise: This tax-savvy strategy can be used whether or not you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.

I was a guest on an estate planning radio show recently when a listener from Traverse City, Mich., phoned with an eye-opening question. “Do I have to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth to make it a ‘stretch' IRA?” she asked.