Volume 7 Issue 28_Sun Bay Paper

Page 13 April 22, 2022 - May 5, 2022 Many people put their affairs in order last minute as they view their health begining to decline. However, many more of us pass on unexpectedy, without making simple preperations which would allow loved ones easy transitions at the end of our lives. Here are some suggestions for you to consider, see if any of these make sense for your to put in place now, unexpected deaths is more common than you might think, be prepared for your family! - Make sure all your bank accounts have direct beneficiaries. in the event of your death, the beneficiary need only go to the bank with your death certificate and an ID of their own, to take over your account. - 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 - 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 too. - 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 an attorney to open the estate account. The attorney also has to publicize your passing in the newspaper or post publication at the county courthouse, to allow anyone to make a claim on your property. - It’s a complete PAIN. - 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! If you already know who you want to have your vehicle go to in the event of your passing, have the titles changed to your name and theirs, using the “and” distinction makes any changes to titles require your and their signature so to prevent any changes to ownership without your approval while you are still alive. Using the distinction “or” allows the other party to make changes without your approval... so if you use this distinction, be very sure you trust the other party. In the event of your death, the “and” distinction would allow transfer of title to the other party with death certificate, while the “or” distinction wouldn’t require a death certificate. - 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 hurt feelings. Our hope is that the above suggestions helps you start an important conversation with your loved ones. Hope this helps! Hope this lights a spark to encourage all your friends and family to take care of these things to make it easier for those we all leave behind! No one expects today to be their last day alive but it happens all the time... be prepared! The Sun Bay Paper Being Prepared Is The Best Gift You Can Give. ---

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjA2ODE3