Getting your affairs in order

Getting your affairs in order

Plan for the Future! No one ever plans to be sick or disabled. Yet, it’s this kind of planning that can make all the difference in an emergency. Long before she fell, Louise put all her important papers in one place and told her son where to find them. She gave him the name of her lawyer, as well as a list of people he could contact at her bank, doctor’s office, insurance company, and investment firm. She made sure he had copies of her Medicare and other health insurance cards. She added her son’s name to her checking account and safe deposit box at the bank. Louise made sure Medicare and her doctor had written permission to talk with her son about her health and insurance claims. On the other hand, Ben always took care of family money matters, and he never talked about the details with Shirley. No one but Ben knew that his life insurance policy was in a box in the closet or that the car title and deed to the house were filed in his desk drawer. Ben never expected that his wife would have to take over. His lack of planning has made a tough job even tougher for Shirley. What Exactly Is an “Important Paper”? The answer to this question may be different for every family. Remember, this is a starting place. You may have other information to add. For example, if you have a pet, you will want to include the name and address of your veterinarian. Include complete information about: Personal Records ■ Full legal name ■ Social Security number ■ Legal residence ■ Date and place of birth ■ Names and addresses of spouse and children ■ Location of birth and death certificates and certificates of marriage, divorce, citizenship, and adoption ■ Employers and dates of employment ■ Education and military records ■ Names and phone numbers of religious contacts ■ Memberships in groups and awards received ■ Names and phone numbers of close friends, relatives, doctors, lawyers, and financial advisors ■ Medications taken regularly (be sure to update this regularly) ■ Location of living will and other legal documents

Steps for Getting Your Affairs in Order ■ Put your important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. You can set up a file, put everything in a desk or dresser drawer, or list the information and location of papers in a notebook. If your papers are in a bank safe deposit box, keep copies in a file at home. Check each year to see if there’s anything new to add. ■ Tell a trusted family member or friend where you put all your important papers. You don’t need to tell this friend or family member about your personal affairs, but someone should know where you keep your papers in case of an emergency. If you don’t have a relative or friend you trust, ask a lawyer to help. ■ Discuss your end-of-life preferences with your doctor. He or she can explain what health decisions you may have to make in the future and what treatment options are available. Talking with your doctor can help ensure your wishes are honored, and the visit may be covered by insurance. ■ Give permission in advance for your doctor or lawyer to talk with your caregiver as needed. There may be questions about your care, a bill, or a health insurance claim. Without your consent, your caregiver may not be able to get needed information. You can give your okay in advance to Medicare, a credit card company, your bank, or your doctor. You may need to sign and return a form

Financial Records ■ Sources of income and assets (pension from your employer, IRAs, 401(k)s, interest, etc.) ■ Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid information ■ Insurance information (life, health, longterm care, home, car) with policy numbers and agents’ names and phone numbers ■ Names of your banks and account numbers (checking, savings, credit union) ■ Investment income (stocks, bonds, property) and stockbrokers’ names and phone numbers ■ Copy of most recent income tax return ■ Location of most up-to-date will with an original signature ■ Liabilities, including property tax— what is owed, to whom, and when payments are due ■ Mortgages and debts—how and when they are paid ■ Location of original deed of trust for home ■ Car title and registration ■ Credit and debit card names and numbers ■ Location of safe deposit box and key.

Legal Documents There are many different types of legal documents that can help you plan how your affairs will be handled in the future. Many of these documents have names that sound alike, so make sure you are getting the documents you want. Also, State laws vary, so find out about the rules, requirements, and forms used in your State. Wills and trusts let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die. Advance directives let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. Two common types of advance directives are: ■ A living will gives you a say in your health care if you become too sick to make your wishes known. In a living will, you can state what kind of care you do or don’t want. This can make it easier for family members to make tough healthcare decisions for you. ■ A durable power of attorney for health care lets you name the person you want to make medical decisions for you if you can’t make them yourself. Make sure the person you name is willing to make those decisions for you. For legal matters, there are ways to give someone you trust the power to act in your place. ■ A general power of attorney lets you give someone else the authority to act on your behalf, but this power will end if you are unable to make your own decisions. ■ A durable power of attorney allows you to name someone to act on your behalf for any legal task, but it stays in place if you become unable to make your own decisions.
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Getting your affairs in order