03/15/2024
I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY AND DONT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE!
We’re all dying, not one of us can escape it. Not one. Let’s talk about it…
I learned a lot losing my mom and son. I learned more about the documents below than I ever wanted to know.
Important things I’ve learned and would encourage all of my friends to do ASAP:
- Make sure all bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. The beneficiary need only go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own.
- TOD = Transfer On Death deed if you own a home. Completing this document and filing it with your county saves your heirs THOUSANDS. This document allows you to transfer ownership of your home to your designee. All they need to do is take their ID and your death certificate to the county building and the deed is signed over. Doing this will avoid the home having to go through probate.
- Living Will: Allows one to put in writing exactly what you want done in the event you cannot speak for yourself when it comes to healthcare decisions
- Trusts: are established to provide legal protection for the trustor's assets, to make sure those assets are distributed according to the wishes of the trustor, and to save time, reduce paperwork and, in some cases, avoid or reduce inheritance or estate taxes.
- Durable Power of Attorney: Allows one to designate a person to make legal decisions if one is no longer competent to do so.
- Power of Attorney for Healthcare: This document allows one to designate someone to make healthcare decisions for their person.
- Last Will and Testament: Designates to whom personal belongings will go to.
- Funeral Planning Declaration: allows one to say exactly one’s wishes as far as disposition of the body and the services.
- If the above documents are done, you can AVOID probate. If all the above is not done, you have to open an estate account at the bank. All money that doesn’t have direct beneficiaries goes into this account. You have to have to open an estate account. The attorney has to publicize your passing in the paper etc., to allow anyone to make a claim on your property.
- Make a list of all banks and account numbers, all investment institutions with account numbers, lists of credit cards, utility accounts, etc. Leave clear instructions as to how and when these things are paid. Make sure heirs knows where life insurance policies are located.
- Make 100% sure SOMEONE knows your Apple ID, bank ID account logins and passwords!
- Make sure you have titles for all vehicles, campers, etc!
- MOST IMPORTANTLY!!!! - Talk with those closest to you and make all your wishes KNOWN. Talk to those whom you’ve designated, as well as those close to you whom you did not designate. - Do this to explain why your decisions were made and to avoid any lingering questions or FAMILY FALLOUTS!
We were fortunate that mom and my son had almost everything in order. A huge blessing to us was she had pre planned and prepaid for her funeral.
Hope this helps! Hope this lights a spark to encourage all my friends and family to take care of these things to make it easier for those we’ll leave behind!
*** I am NOT an attorney. The above is all simply lessons that I’ve learned on my own. Of course only you can make decisions for yourself! My hope is that the list below helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones and an attorney that can help you complete all the necessary steps. ***
It Girl Notary LLC It Girl Enterprises, Inc.
