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Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
34,705 posts, read 58,042,598 times
Reputation: 46172
Quote:
Originally Posted by otterhere
I also assumed my will had been filed somewhere -- either with another law firm or the county courthouse. I was wrong on both counts. In these matters, I wouldn't TAKE CHANCES or ASSUME anything. A trust company seems a better choice than any one individual -- even a very young lawyer.
No one's mentioned annuities or reverse mortgages. Aren't those also good options for "using up" one's money if there's no one to leave it to?
Our remaining estate all goes to our DAF (donor advised fund), where it will be distributed to our designated charities. For free... (Slight annual fee for DAF operations writing the checks) which we've used extensively for 30+ yrs.
How would a Reverse Mortgage or Annuity distribute your excess funds? (Each are pretty expensive to create....sunk costs... Up front. They would each have a beneficiary listed for any remaining funds upon death.
When I had my will and related matters done by a local attorney practice, they advised me to either put the organizations in each of my accounts as beneficiaries, so those assets go directly to each in the % stated -or- put in my estate name "The estate of <first name / middle name / last name>" as the beneficiary, which means the money will go to my estate and then the specific directions of where to send the funds, in the amounts specified in my will, will be followed.
It's been several years and I need to update my will, and I want to get clarification and simplify things, to the extent I can. I've since decided to use a lawyer/law practice as my executor, rather than give that burden to an individual.
I talked to my lawyer and typed up a cheat sheet of assets, phone lock, etc. I have a fireproof box in my closet with important papers. She said just to check in at the beginning of the year and to put her card in my wallet and on the refrigerator.
Do you give your lawyer the keys to your house? Is she in charge of funeral arrangements?
Do you leave a bank account behind for lawyer?
(Per the DNR tatoo, check on that.)
I saw a story many years ago about a woman who had one on her chest.
I don't remember specifics but Drs. couldn't follow it.
OP, travel if you like and enjoy. And/or what about donating something for someone or an organization?
Couldn't or wouldn't?
I believe EMS don't, if they are called, because their whole purpose is to revive people. My experience in hospitals is that personnel don't really care one way or the other and are not careful about checking charts for Advance Health Care Directives.
If doctors in a hospital setting see that on a patient's chest and choose to ignore it, I can only guess it is for liability insurance concerns. The patient's wishes probably come last after all financial considerations.
From one website:
"The first problem lies in the fact that do not resuscitate (DNR) orders have certain rules that make them valid. It varies by state, but in general, a DNR must be signed by a doctor. Typically, this involves having a legal document on you or on file which medical professionals can refer to. A DNR tattoo does not have this formality. Also, if you decide to, a DNR order can be rescinded."
Do you give your lawyer the keys to your house? Is she in charge of funeral arrangements?
Do you leave a bank account behind for lawyer?
My lawyer will take her fee from my estate. I left a message about funeral arrangements (cheapest cremation, don't care about the ashes) and she knows she doesn't need keys to my back door.
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