Because you could have a car accident, or...
We just don't know when our time will come.
Having a set of final instructions is the same as having a list of tasks for your neighbor to check on when you leave her in charge of your property as you gallop around another hemisphere. She needs a list of do's, and a set of emergency numbers in case she needs permission to do more than you or she anticipated.
The first thing you need to write down are your final instructions on how you want to die.
Ugh?
Yes. When you are lying there in a coma, unable to communicate, how do you want to guide the conversation? Do you want to be kept alive until....
Morbid?
Unthinkable?
Too scary?
Yeah. Way too scary for today.
It's sunny outside. I'll do this tomorrow....Bye.....
If you use Quicken Financial System, find the Willmaker application, and voila', you are taking your first step.
That wasn't hard!
28 comments:
Thanks for a very inspiring and important post, Rosaria. You're so right! It's always painful to lose a loved one, but the agony and chaos that can happen when there are no directives and no will can be incredible. I'm so grateful when I think of my Aunt Molly's very specific directions, stated wishes and will. She was a role model in life and in death. For those who just don't want to think of such things, take a short time and complete a will and advance health directives. Then you don't have to give it another thought -- and you've done those you love most a great kindness.
We just did a new one last week.
So very important. It is a loving thing to do for your family.
we finally got around to making our wills over a year ago but I never got around to signing them before a notary. guess I ought to get them out and take a look.
This is the best gift you can give your children!
so true...so much to be said when your time comes but if it is not in writing it creates such headaches....
At least no one can argue with your wishes when you're gone. . . . and they have to do what you willed.
Yeeeeha!
So true. Just because we don't do one, doesn't mean nothing will happen to us. Good reminder!
Yeah...darn it. I probably need to rewrite mine. Since my wife and I did our wills so many things have happened -- two grandchildren, reconnecting with my daughter...my current will specifies who is suppose to care for our son. He's now 24, a father of two, and would probably object to someone telling him when he has to come home on Friday night.
You are so right, Rosaria. My mother at 95 refuses to update her will which was written when my dad was alive. She is inviting a mess after she dies.
She has filled out 'five wishes' and has appointed me as the person to make her health decisions.
My husband and I finally got our wills done a year ago before we went on a trip.
My daughter's death shortly thereafter has left me to pick up the pieces of her financial life. It has not been an easy thing to do since she had no will. These things are never easy, but now having a written plan makes it so much harder.
This is important advice, and my dh and I have a will and living wills. We had a will made when we became parents and updated it not long ago.
Sigh. Like everything else, dying in this day and age has become very complicated. You need a will; a health proxy; a power of attorney; and probably a few other things as well.
One of these days, I'm gonna get around to figuring it all out.
Yes...... get those Wills sealed and signed while you are still in your right mind. Saves a load of fuss and upsets.
Maggie X
Nuts in May
WE made our wills years ago and had them notarized and registered. They also contain right of attorney dispositions and the way we wish our bodies to be disposed of. Our will executors are designated and we can go in peace.
Thanks for the links. That is something I keep putting off and really need to do. No one is guaranteed tommorrow or even next minute. I appreciate the nudge.
After my best friend passed away, last year at age 51, without a will, it made me realize how important they are. I chose a Living Will, which assures a seamless transition of my estate for my children, when the time comes.
We made our last wills and living wills before we took tat cross country jaunt a couple of years ago. It was a task long overdue, but we got it done.
This indeed is a valuable reminder Rosaria. Something to think about sometime or another. A wake up call for a change!
Lovely picture you have! Cheers!
How scary! I just brought this program for my husband and me to do our wills. It started with me trying to get something we own licensed, and I had the hardest time without him. I thought to myself if I am having this much trouble, what the heck will I face if he dies first, and to complicate matters is his first wife having a will. Could she control our affairs with that will. I am scared! I won't feel safe and secure until we have filed his will. He has written it and it is simple for a married couple, but I am sure I will have nothing but problems from his first family. Why? Unfortunately, his first family feels he owes them. I owe them. The world owes them! And they won't see how hard me and my husband work to maintain all I worked for.
Sadly, I didn't have a prenup signed. I didn't think it was necessary, but now that I am in the midst of life, it was necessary! I not saying he hasn't added to our finances, but much of his monies goes towards child support and insurance coverage, as Oregon ensures the children support until they turn 21 as long as they are in college. Good practice with major flaws.
I have been for five years at the wife to sit and make a will but she has some issue that won't let her do it. *shrug*
Good advice. I have an aunt who says she'll let the ones left fuss over it. I never! In some ways I'm glad that I don't have any children that will fuss over what may be left or not left. In Arizona there is a beneficiary deed for property which sure makes it nice. Some savings accounts now have beneficiaries. IRAs have beneficiaries as well. The most important is the medical directives. You sure don't want doctors making decisions or relatives who didn't bother to ask what you would like. In Arizona wills don't have to be notarized and can be written in your hand writing to be effective....thus not paying that enormous fee that some lawyers think they should get for performing a few tasks on the computer that their secretary did for them. Just one more thing to think about before going to heaven. Hugs.
I did get a living will for my daughter. I did get this far!
All this is SO important.
And thanks, my friend, for stopping by and congratulating me on my book launch. It HAS been a very long road. Am I up to all this at my age??!! You can relate to this question too LOL.
We did this (my husband and I)- will and living wills. Then told our daughter our places for the important documents and passwords for accounts, etc. It's just part of being a responsible parent and spouse.
This is a task that I know we need to do and I can't find any good reason why we haven't..except being lazy. Thanks for the push and I'm going to get right on it! Plus many other important things to get in order. It's time.
My co-worker asked me today if I have Life Insurance.
Hmmm...
Funny. As we are going away - four plane trips on holiday on Saturday, we have looked at our will again. Lots of rules and regulations, but at least you can express your wishes. Thought I would post a blog today actually.
G'day Rosaria. Great blog and beautiful photo. I did my will a few years ago, my two children were shocked, but came to realise the importance of it. I also have a funeral plan that I have been contributing to for some years now. This way my family won't have to find the funds when that time comes, the money will be there to cover it all.It's not something that we like to think about and we tend to put it off and say that we will worry about it at another time, but it's a fact that we need to have everything in order to make it easier for those left in charge when we are gone. My mother had everything organized and paid for before she died and I was just so grateful that it was one less worry for me during a very stressfull time. Take care.liz...
We just completed updating and simplifying our wills.
I have written my funeral wishes.
We neither one have written advanced directives and our power or attorneys are outdated and parts of the wording not acceptable any more.
So we still have work to do.
Did that ten years ago...nothing's changed since then so I guess we're good to go!
An odd thing happened at my last annual physical: the doctor asked for a copy of my living will to keep on file. The paper mill never stops...
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