This morning, I was notified that a friend of 40+ years had passed away. I think it has been 6 years since I have seen her in person. She lived in another state and did not do FaceTime or Zoom. Her passing brings a lot to mind. My first message to you is to try and stay in contact with your friends and family because you never know when you will get that text message or phone call that your friend or loved one has passed away. Another thing that I personally must do is take my own advice and complete my trust papers, so the state does not end up with my hard-earned money. Remind my funeral director of my final wishes and give a copy to my family. These are not the types of things we want to think about, but it gives you such peace of mind when these things are taken care of in advance. It is always so sad to see families putting together “GoFundMe” accounts for their loved ones who have passed with no insurance or written arrangements. Put your arrangements together and put them in a place that can be accessed when you pass away or if you should become incapacitated. Do your research on what happens if you have a will vs. a trust account. You may think you are doing the right thing by creating a will, but depending on the state that you live in and the amount of funds you have, a will can leave your family with a large bill to pay. There is so much to research and make decisions on, and you want to do it while you are in good mental health. You know that phrase in the will, “being of sound mind and body,” that is the key to when to prepare your final wishes.
Email the columnist at debbienorrell@aol.com
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