Organizing our Affairs: Relief Society Council – May
What can every sister do to have her affairs in order in the event of an untimely death or illness?
Imagine what it would be like if you died tonight and loved ones had to act in your absence. What would they need to know? How would they access documents they need?
What if your spouse were to pass away? Could you change the furnace filters or balance the checkbook without him? Have you provided for guardianship of your minor children?
You can’t start too young to “get your affairs in order.”
Sisters in our Council shared the following insights:
- It’s best to start now. Life insurance, a will, and providing for guardianship of children are things you need to consider EARLY.
- Sister Lisa Quist reported that her mother had 18 different banking and investment accounts when she died. Gaining access to all of those accounts required hundreds of hours of Lisa’s time. She recommended finding someone you really trust, and putting them on your accounts so that loved ones don’t have this same difficulty upon your death.
- Katie Clark, who is a critical care nurse, recommended having an end of life plan and making sure it is filed with your physician, hospital, and care center. Include a detailed Health Directive.
- Multiple sisters addressed making sure a trusted loved-one has access to computer passwords, safes, and safety deposit boxes.
- Several sisters have a large binder or file where they keep all important records such as wills, trusts, deeds, and insurance policies. The executor or trustee you assign to manage your affairs needs to know where to find all of these documents.
- Consider keeping important records in a fireproof box or safe, but leaving it unlocked. One sister’s family paid hundreds of dollars to have a family safe opened only to find it full of ammo.
- Make sure you have provided for the care of your pets after you pass.
- Consider making and paying for your funeral arrangements in advance. Funerals are expensive, and families are often ill-prepared for this expense.
- Know the difference between a financial power of attorney and a medical power of attorney, and make sure you have both in place.
- If you don’t think your kids will be interested in things that have historical value, donate them to a museum or archive.
PLAN TO ACT:
What can you do right away to help assure that your affairs will be in order when you pass away? Here are some ideas:
- Download a list of important documents you could gather. Make a plan for organizing and storing these.
- Download and fill out the Utah Advance Healthcare Directive, which allows you to name an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to.
- Make an appointment to visit with an estate attorney to set up a will or trust, or to declare guardianship for your minor children.
Family Organization Event
Join us June 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the Relief Society Room for tips on getting organized!
For everything from laundry to legal affairs, we’ll help you gather ideas for systems that work! Our special guest speaker will share tools to help you organize your documents so you never have to hunt for a birth certificate or passport again! Save your family thousands of dollars and lots of time if you are ever incapacitated or pass away unexpectedly. Bring a large 3-ring binder.