Prepare

Let’s be AWARE

| Julie Hall

Let’s continue to spell out the remedy for the older adult disease of procrastination with a touch of denial.

A stands for Anguish.

W stands for Will.

A stands for Action Plan.  Once you have your will in hand, then develop a written plan that lists important people who could help your family or friends after your death.  Research and record who you consider to be trusted resources and experts with their name, address, phone number, and an explanation of what they do.  Have this plan of action with your will, so your family or friends will know who to contact upon your death.  These resources are people such as your attorney, financial planner, banker, real estate appraiser, personal property appraiser, estate sale professionals, and experts you trust to consult about a collection, such as stamps, coins, or books.  It is wise, too, to include where you keep your address book in your home, in case someone wishes to notify out of town friends of your death.

R stands for Responsibility and Respect.  Responsibility is one of the most lasting characteristics you can leave a family member or friend who must close out your affairs after your death.  When you have taken the personal responsibility to handle your estate, you are actually leaving a legacy of respect for those who must handle your affairs.

E stands for Educate.  Educate yourself by taking a personal evaluation and appraisal of your personal property and how you would want it distributed.  Educate others to what is valuable to you and find out what might be valuable to them.  For example, your daughter might value a chipped ceramic plate that was the platter for family birthday cakes — no monetary value, but heaped with sentimental value for her.  Give away as much in life as you are comfortable in giving.

Be “aware” of how you want people to remember you when you are no longer here to tell them yourself!

© 2009 Julie Hall

The remedy for procrastination and denial

| Julie Hall

When it comes to making arrangements for estate distributions upon one’s death, too many older adults are seized with a rather dramatic disease diagnosed as procrastination with a touch of denial.

Of course, we will all die — it’s a certainty, but many people do nothing about it while they are alive.  They think in terms of “if” I die and not “when” I die.  Denial makes them procrastinate on very important personal decisions they should be making.

Procrastination and denial have a remedy called “AWARE”.

A stands for Anguish.  When a loved one dies and leaves no instructions on what to do with his or her estate, the next of kin becomes angry and resentful of having to mentally and physically handle another person’s lifetime of accumulation.  The frustration, anger, resentment and guilt are in their voices when they call me to help them dispose of the household possessions.  So, alleviate this emotional strain by spending a small amount of time now when you are mentally and physically able to arrange your affairs yourself.

W stands for Will.  “Don’t leave life without it.”  Your Last Will and Testament is the wisest document you can possess.  Have an attorney help you, since template forms may not hold up in the statutory process for distributing assets.  Not just for those of wealth, a will is important for any well-prepared individual.  A will is needed to make sure you have designated the right beneficiary when your estate is distributed after your death.  The investment in time and money here is minimal compared to the anguish you will cause a loving family member or friend without one.

We’ll finish the remainder of “AWARE” in the next post!

© 2009 Julie Hall