Guess What? You’re Dying!

Here is the only 100% guarantee I will make as an attorney. I guarantee that one day your life on this earth will end. If this fact catches you by surprise, please call me. We have a lot to discuss. If you accept this fact, you need to take several steps in preparation for your last day.

• Get a will, put it in a safe place, and tell someone where to find it. Having a will is useless if no one can find it.
• Make a list of your bank accounts, retirement accounts, and life insurance policies. Put the list in a safe place and tell someone where to find it.
• Make a list of your passwords for your online accounts. Put the list in a safe place and tell someone where to find it. Do you see a pattern here?
• If you are married and your spouse is not on the deed to your home, put your spouse on the deed. Speak to an attorney on how to transfer your house to your spouse so the home isn’t caught up in the probate process. This one task could be the difference between your spouse having a home to live in or not.
• Write a letter or do a video from you to your loved ones. Most of us don’t know how or when we are going to die. The words you say to your family may be what helps them cope with your death. When you love someone, you can never say it too much.
• Plan your funeral. Do you want to be buried or cremated? Do you want flowers? Do you want an open casket or a closed casket? Do you want the mood to be somber or festive? If you don’t make a directive now, I will almost guarantee you won’t have much input on the day of your funeral.
• Get a Power of Attorney. Your last day is coming, but hopefully, there are a few days left in-between now and then. A power of attorney can be very valuable until the will takes effect at your death.