In todays culture, we rarely want to think about or even talk about death. What an odd thing, considering we will all go through it. We will all experience losing loved ones, and as painful as it is, it is a natural part of life. I encourage my family and friends not only speak about it, but to plan for it.
When someone passes away, a part time job begins. The legal and financial paperwork and errands can be daunting. Planning a funeral can be time consuming. You can gift your family by taking some of these burdens away. I recommend doing three things that should take you less than a day to complete:
1. Create a Will
New legislation within the last 10 years has made it more difficult for children to directly inherit their parents estates without a will. A good lawyer will send you a guide and questionnaire to fill out that makes it easier. They are usually broken down into categories and you fill in your assets and who they should belong to after passing. This usually takes one appointment and a few signatures, with many lawyers willing to go to your home. They take care of the rest!
2. Plan your Funeral
There are many websites and apps now that make this very easy. They ask your wishes of each consideration and sometimes simplify it even more by just giving you options to click on. These include what kind of a casket you like or if you prefer cremation? Would you like a burial plot and where? What kind of food, music and presentations do you want? Where would you like it to be held?
Now, I always say that funerals are for the living. Your family may not follow all of your wishes, but it will probably ease their decision making if you have it ready to go. Many things can be pre purchased also. Funeral homes offer payment plans or outright purchases. My husband joked as we purchased our plots at the cemetery, “Real estate only goes up, better to buy it now!”. However, be mindful of your finances before taking this on. Your children want you to have a good quality life before these considerations.
After you fill in the blanks or write your wishes down, print a copy of them and file it away. Do not rely on the fact that you told them once or twice what your wishes are. Memories can be difficult in grief and memories between loved ones can vary.
3. File It
Create a file with all pertinent documents and let your children or executor know where it is. This should include your will, funeral plans, a list of accounts and personal letters or thoughts you wish to convey. It should also include insurance documents and items already paid for. One of my clients is an avid traveller and they insist on having journey home insurance in case they pass away while travelling. This allows for their transport back home, which can be quite expensive and difficult. They do not want to have their children burdened with this task.
It may be difficult to think about, but there are professionals to help streamline the process. You will feel relieved to know that your family is taken care of. I recommend that every adult do these three things, especially if they have children. If you would like any recommendations for reputable lawyers or websites, please reach out.