Silver Threads: WHERE THERE'S A WILL .....

25 August 2007
Silver Threads column, Riverview This Week, Moncton This Week
Where There’s a Will……..
By Wayne Harrigan

If you really don’t like your family much, die without a will!
Who should have a will? Everyone. No matter how often this advice is given, there are still many people who avoid the issue or who have just not got around to it yet. If you fall into this group, make the change and make it soon. How do you go about it? Well, unless you are into do-it-yourself wills, you’ll need a lawyer. The Moncton yellow pages section has twenty pages of lawyers listed. If you don’t already have a lawyer and don’t know one, here is a place to start. You can see from their ads which ones handle family law. Why do you need a will? If you don’t have one, you will have no say as to how your estate is allocated. Wills are not just for the rich. Regardless of how much or how little money you have, a will ensures that whatever personal belongings and assets you do have will go to family or beneficiaries you designate. Without a will, the court makes these decisions. There are some things you can do when you are getting ready to make a will. Gather together certificates, deeds, bank information, investment and insurance policies, funeral arrangements if you’ve already done that. Decide on who you would like to have as executor and ask if this person is willing.
While you are at it, this would be a good time to look at powers of attorney. There are two types, one dealing with finances and the other with personal care. If you make these decisions while you are of sound mind, you can rest assured that someone who cares about you will make the decisions when you can’t. Powers of attorney are in effect while you are still living; at death, they cease to exist.
A related topic which many people avoid is funeral arrangements. Yet how can your loved ones do what you wish when they have no idea what you wish. These are realities of life at any age, but for seniors it is particularly applicable.
If you really are uncomfortable with all of this, get over it. You will rest better if you have had a good chat with family or friends, and have made all the arrangements which are important to you. It’s something we’ll all go through- we just don’t know when!