By Julia Frey. When meeting with people to discuss estate planning for themselves and their families, often some of the hardest discussions are about “end of life”. Now, we all hope that at our end of life we will go without any health concerns, without any lingering illnesses etc. but we just don’t know. I recently read some statistics posted by “The Conversation Project” that stated that 90% of people think it is important to talk with their loved ones about their own wishes for end of life care —- but only 30% of people have actually had those discussions. Similarly, 82% of people believe that they should put their wishes in writing — but only 23% have actually signed documents that deal with end of life care. You don’t want to leave these decisions to chance, or to the government or to health care professionals who don’t know what you would have wanted. So, I urge you to talk to your estate planning attorney and get your life-time documents (which include your end of life documents) in place. I also urge you to talk to your parents and encourage them to do the same. Take a look at www.theconversationproject.org as well and see if that helps you get the conversation started.
How not having a Will can wreck a family.
By: Julie Frey
I have long talked about how important it is to have your affairs in order, while you have the ability to do so. I am a WMFE 90.7 fan, loyal listener and am currently serving as Chair of the Board. A few nights ago on my way to the airport to pick up my son from college I was listening to “On Point” on WMFE. The show was about a family whose mother did not have her durable power of attorney or health care documents in order and then got ill. The family members then fought over how to care for their mother. When the mother died, with a modest estate, the family then continued to bicker about the possessions and the small amount of money left to distribute. The end result was a family divided. A family who does not talk to each other. These rifts sometimes never heal. While thinking about one’s mortality is not fun, leaving a mess for those left behind is not a good legacy either. Talk to your estate planning attorney who can help you prepare a plan that meets your needs and helps keep this from happening.