7 Things To Do Before You Die

Will your family and friends be free to grieve losing you, or will they be distracted by the anxiety and fear of not knowing what to do next or what’s going to happen to them?

Getting your affairs in order will make it easier for the people you choose to handle your affairs in the event you suddenly become seriously ill, severely disabled, or if you die without warning.  Yes, I know that’s harsh.  But unfortunately, I can name several people that I know personally who did just that.  We all have heard stories or know of someone who woke up in the morning not knowing that it was their last day on earth.  Michael Jackson went to sleep and never woke up.  Prince was near an elevator on his way to another floor.  Multiple members of the same family boarded Kolbe Bryant’s helicopter along with him and his daughter; the helicopter crashed killing everyone on board. Here in my city, a beloved news anchor was doing a story about a local airplane pilot.  The plane crashed, killing both of them instantly. A few months later during Mardi Gras season, a lady was attempting to cross the street when she fell and was struck by an oncoming float, killing her instantly. What all those people had in common is that they died very suddenly. It’s difficult to wrap your mind around the fact that one minute they were here, and then without warning, they were gone. The pain of that kind of loss is almost unbearable. My heart still aches for their families. Frankly, I’m almost in tears again just writing this article. 

Will your loved ones know what to do next?

Imagine your loved ones trying to manage or sort through the details of your life without any assistance from you.  Will they know where to find your important legal and financial documents? Can they access your accounts?  Do they know how you feel about end-of-life medical care and treatment?  If you are severely disabled, will they have the proper written authority to manage your home, business, or health care? If you die, suddenly or not, will they know what to do to carry out your wishes? You are the only one who can answer these questions and arrange these matters.

Start Getting Your Affairs in Order Today

Here are 7 things you can do now to make life easier for your loved ones:

• Select responsible people to handle your affairs. Seriously, take a moment to consider who would be willing and able to manage or wrap up your affairs. Will it be your spouse or children, or another trusted family member or friend?

• Talk to a legal professional to have your powers of attorney and will prepared. And, if you choose, have your living will prepared also. A living will is the document that states whether you want life support. Powers of attorney name someone to handle your affairs while you are still alive, but maybe mentally or physically incapacitated. With a will, you designate the people you want to inherit your assets after you die. In Louisiana, a notary public can draft, prepare, and notarize all of these essential estate planning documents for you.

• Review all accounts that have beneficiary designations, for example, retirement accounts and insurance policies. Confirm that the beneficiaries are listed exactly the way you want them.

• Establish Payable-On-Death (POD) accounts at your bank or credit union. Upon your death, the funds in this type of account will be paid directly to the person or people you name as beneficiary. Speak with an advisor at your financial institution to see if this type of account is right for you.

• Organize really important legal, financial and insurance documents in a single place so that they are easy to find in an emergency situation.

• Shred or dispose of all unnecessary mail, documents, and excess papers. Shredders are really inexpensive now, or you can contact a company like Shred-It or Iron Mountain if you have a huge amount of paper to destroy.

• Make a list of your digital assets. “What are digital assets?” you ask. Well, they include your online accounts, such as with banks, credit unions, and credit cards companies, your email, social media, bill payment, or shopping accounts, as well as your computers, phones, photos, music, movies, etc. If you are a business owner, it may also include your website, blog, and online payment systems, such as merchant service accounts, PayPal, Stripe, or Square.

Believe me, it will be emotionally difficult to come into your home and sift through the mounds of papers you have sitting on the table, in boxes or tucked away in drawers.  Think about it.  If you don’t want to do it, I promise your loved ones won’t want to do it either, especially while they are dealing with your illness or death.  While you are physically and mentally able to do so, dispose of what’s not important.  Donate or sell clothing, furniture, or other household items that you can no longer use.   Your family will be comforted and pleased that you thought enough of them to get your affairs in order. Think of it as a gift you give to say “I love you. Thank you for taking care of me and wrapping up my life.”

And remember, action speaks louder than words.

Next Steps

Pick one thing from the list above and start working on it today.

Get your copy of my free guide Getting Your Affairs in Order. You’ll learn how being prepared and planning for emergencies, illnesses, and death will put you and your family in control during difficult times. It also includes a worksheet to help you get started right away and a checklist to inspire you to get it done.

You can schedule a call. Consulting with an experienced legal professional is an educational opportunity for you to gain knowledge, insight, and clarity so you’ll know where you stand. I will help you assess your situation and answer all of your questions. Plus, you will find out more about me and how I serve my clients so you can decide whether you would like further assistance in getting your affairs in order.

If you are creating a comprehensive estate plan, you should also consult with a financial advisor, such as a banker, accountant, CPA, or broker, and an insurance agent. For very large estates, I would recommend that you consult with an attorney who specializes in estate planning.