And the Sad News Continues.....

[red stripe]

Pat, my mother was about the most scatterbrained person in the world.. she did not have a clue how to handle money.. other than spend it.

So when she suddenly died I flew home to find financial records no older than that month. She dealt with them and then tossed them!
it was a bit of a strain sorting things out.

But one wonderful thing my "born Blond" mum did for both my sister and I.. was to arrange her own funeral a few years earlier.
Plus she sent copies of all of it to us.

Losing her was bad enough, but I was spared the job of having to do arrangements from scratch.

I contacted the Funeral parlor before I even left this country, and everything went like clockwork in regards to that part.

I can not thank her enough in my heart for that wonderful thoughtful gesture.

yes.. we all need to either arrange things, or write down our wishes in this regard. And DO NOT put those wishes in a will.. as often the will is not consulted until after the funeral.

You need a small ledger in which you list all your financials.
From savings accounts to credit cards that you use.
Also passwords for online sensitive things. and then place it in a safe or a safe place.

Marriage papers.
Divorce papers
military papers.
Power of attorney.
Instructions
Deeds, titles and registrations.
Burial arrangements
and even a home inventory can be helpful.
If you have things to leave people that are not necessarily valuable, but you want the right person to get it. list it.
for instance.. if your neice has always loved your record collection, and you know that she will take care of it.
List that it goes to her.


NOTE!! a safe deposit box in your name is sealed when you die, and at the very least the bank will require proof of death etc. from a solicitor before they can open it for you. and in some states it will take a court order that can take weeks.

You then tell the safe combination to a family member that you totally trust. Or place it in an envelope that is held by your lawyer or minister. and make sure the family or whomever you have appointed as your executor is aware of it.

This is a gift you give your loved ones.

 

[Mgram]

Mrs

Val........that is a wonderful reminder......My girls know some of it, but not all, so I will use your list as a guide to get all of our stuff in one spot. I have become somewhat lax.....less organized, so I need to do this. You always have such complete thoughts/practices......does it hurt to be in your head sometimes??? I used to be like that.....and some still think that I am (got them fooled) but, I think I am enjoying my more scattered existence. :clap: Thanks, again!:thankyou:

 

[nieciez]

That is some GREAT advice Red! :doubleup:

 

[red stripe]

Re: Mrs

Val.. .does it hurt to be in your head sometimes??? :thankyou:

Pat, thank you for the first laugh I have had in days.

I actually have more on this subject, but cut it short for this post.
Some of it came from personal experiences and the rest from the experiences of friends.

I need to write this all down and post it here. I think that some of it is not always thought of.

I can give you an incident that happened to a friend in Texas.
the husband died, and she was scared that the bank would freeze their account. So she went there that very day and withdrew almost all of it.

Only after doing this did she find out that with the type account that they had, insurance was attached.. and the bank would pay double whatever was in the account.

 

[Mgram]

OH NO!!! That would just make me sick. I think I need to go read the fine print on a couple of those 'free' bank polices. The info is with all of our important papers. Thanks Val.

 

[Lurline63]

Mgram, I am terribly sorry to hear about your neighbor and friend. He was blessed to have such caring neighbors as yourselves.

Whimsy, my condolences to you, as well.

 

[Mgram]

Thanks Lisa ...... We didn't know his daughters and son at all.....not even their names, so my biggest fear was that he would be alone for days.....unclaimed. Thank heavens his lady friend showed up and could provide the police with first names.