It's inevitable. The day will come when you say your last goodbyes. When you do, you would want to know your wishes will be fulfilled.
We all want our loved ones to be taken care of and not have to deal with legalities while grieving.
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Yes, we never know just when the clock of life will stop; it could happen at any time, and I don't think age prescribes when!
We don't like thinking about death, so postpone things like a Will. When someone we know dies unexpectedly we realize that it's time we got our ducks in a row, but we still procrastinate!
Death is the one sure thing in life, so why not prepare?
I will briefly tell you of my experience - after losing my darling man, still in shock and deep sorrow, I learned that the company who drew up our will no longer existed.
Hubby was worried about it that last week, but I was in denial.
Even though I had the original will, the company that now held it had to be found. An empathetic attorney was recommended, and she eventually found out who the new estate administrators were.
When there are only assets in the estate, large companies insist on the heirs paying all estate costs before they start the process; alternatively, they start selling off assets!
I received a Pro-forma Cash Reconciliation Statement for just under ZAR150K! Yes, I am shocked again while tapping the keyboards!
I was given payment options:
- pay it off over six months...umm...ZAR25K per month - way beyond my means!
- sell the car...it's an older model, not enough!
- sell the house
And the last shocking option was: - they will auction the house!
Do you think their appointed executor would ensure the house fetched the best price?
Me-thinks not!
I had to fight, and then pay up, to get them to renounce the will before I could pass it onto a small firm of estate administrators - the same lady who helped trace our will.
Still grieving, and having to deal with this was harrowing! Something hubby was agitated about that last week, but he was in the hospital, and I did not want to face reality!
After this harrowing experience, I cannot emphasize enough the importance of drawing up or updating a will. And, get a trusted attorney to administer the estate
My new will is now with this firm.
Something else to consider is a Will of a different kind - a Living Will.
If it's your wish not to be kept alive by artificial means when there's no hope of survival or quality of life, you need to have this document. You can get a template online, need two witnesses, and ensure your family knows about it. You can also ask your attorney to draw it up and safe-keep it.
If you do not have a living will, your family may be faced with having to sign a document giving the doctor permission to turn off life support if you ever end up like that. Two of my friends had to do that, it was awful!
For this week's Ladies of Hive Community Contest #223 @joanstewart poses the question:
Have you written up a Will and filed it, protecting your spouse and children? Take control of your estate, assets, or worldly possessions — make sure you leave behind to those you wish it to go to!
My advice is to scan and keep hard copies of these documents in a safe place at home, even if your attorney has the originals. important to let your family know where it is.
I know my hubs would never have wanted this to happen, but I was foolish not to listen to him that last week, and denied him the peace of mind to know his wishes would be heard when he no longer had a voice!
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Oh goodness! The year before last I told myself that year wouldn't end before I had all my things in order. I told myself that last year too. Now....I have told myself again and darnit, I am going to get on it!
I've always thought it was crazy how the government or powers that be want their greedy fingers in everything. It really, REALLY should not be that hard or complicated. Once you put something in order, there should be no questions or delays. Not like you haven't paid taxes on everything that is left already.
In the perfect world I guess.... .right ?
I bet the room for the insanely greedy in Hell-o is having to have additions added on. LOL !!!
Haha and it will be full of politicians and government officials @jacey.boldart😅
Please just fo it, even if you draw up your own from online templates but get 2 witnesses to sign as well!
Ah Lizelle whether young or old a Will is a must have/do! Living Will was new to us when offered in 2018, very happy these were all done together.
Running around with a fuzzy head after horrific shock, the experience is a nightmare, keeping a Will updated annually or as circumstances alter is imperative. Remember to copy your Doctor (GP) in on the Living Will one thing I only remembered a month into my nightmare.
As always thanks for support !LUV
!LADY
Thank you Joan! Good thing to email the Living Will to my GP, I didn't think of that.
We had the children in our will, but Santam Trust no longer do Estates. Arthur thought that was the case, but he wasn't well that last week, and I kept my head in the sand!
At least worked out in the end, but it was unnecessary expense!
Enjoy your Saturday night Joan❤️
No one realizes how traumatic it is when you are unable to think straight. I notified Dr in charge in ICU, she appeared horrified, I sent her a copy of Living Will. Hubby had been through so much, halfway through it dawned on me, his Living Will.
GP and Frail Care now advised, since in the home he has had flu two weeks ago, week later fell back smashing his head requiring stitches, I am so grateful he is in a place where carers take such good care of him daily. My GP at additional cost goes to the home to attend to. 🌻
Thank goodness you found a place that cares and close to you as well!
Yes it is so overwhelming at first!
Amen to that, it is a case of juggling most days, will get into a routine eventually.
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What a terrible experience for you to go through, as if losing the love of your life wasn't bad enough, you had to deal with people trying to grab money off you. Shame on them!!!
Do you have to have a firm of lawyers to be the administrator? That's sounds like a different process where we have an executor. Lawyers will still need to be involved, but they act on the executor's instructions who carry out the deceased wishes in their will
Hi @livinguktaiwan, one can appoint anyone, but it's a nightmare with our grossly inefficient Master of the High Court. Arthur acted as his Dad's executor in the 1980s when our judicial system was still functioning like it should. I applied to be executor (fees are less then) but gave the lawyer power of attorney, so they're doing the running around.
Even the Deeds Office is in a shambles, it takes 3-6 months for property transfer to go through.
Arthur's estate is still not wound up!
It's no wonder all our young people are emigrating! We would have if we were younger, but kept on hoping things would change. It's such a beautiful country.
It is home!
spot on @lizelle , have had a will for 20 years now, nothing worse than the pain of someone dying intestate they years to sort out probate the inheritance being eaten away by the bloodsuckers of the legal profession.
Also similar to a living will, a power of attorney for health and wealth eases the burden on loved ones quite expensive to set up £800 but once done one can rest
The big estate administrators are ruthless, I've heard of many older people losing their homes when there's only assets in the estate.
I've not heard of the power of attorney for health and wealth here in our country. We have funeral policies to cover funeral cost.
It's expensive coming into this world and on your way out - not to speak of the in-between🤔
A friend lost her husband unexpectedly at a young age. Their will was never signed so he died intestate. Her kids were small, they each received a portion of his provident fund death benefits. Was deposited into their respective trust funds till they reached 18, at which time she also had to pay them their portions of the value of the house. It was so complex. Fortunately his brother declined a share in the inheritance.
So is life, we need to be prepared.
Have a great Saturday evening @grindle!
cheers @lizelle
The POA, just means that if I ever became a vegetative state my kids would have the power to administer my assets legally, but their again I would not have reached that state as the health POA clearly states my requirement to switch the machines off ASAP, life qithout quality is not worth living. So I haver made that decision for them, never mind doctors wanting to prolong the great blackness, hit the on off switch and go enjoy your inheritance
Now moving on from morbidity, enjoy your week ahead.x
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We're glad you did, and you shared some excellent advice! 😊
It is absolutely true as you said. If we have the will there is certainly a way for us to achieve it.The important thing is that we are serious about doing it.
It's clear you have just read the title and not the post. If it's too much an effort for you to be sincere, then it's better that you stop commenting
I just shook my head at this @livinguktaiwan 🙈
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