If you die tomorrow, what does your family need to know today? (Lawyer Needs Freeper Help)

JD86 | 12/06/01 | JD86

[JD86]

If you die tomorrow, what does your family need to know today? (Lawyer Needs Freeper Help)

I'm an attorney who helps clients with estate planning and other money matters, but I won't claim that I "know it all". I need Freeper advice.

I once had an elderly client who always told his family "When I die, everything you need is in the manila folder". When he died, we searched high and low but we never did find that folder. As a result, it took years to settle his estate.

That shouldn't happen. I am putting together a booklet for my clients - a checklist of sorts - to help them keep track of important family information.

I'm asking for your suggestions. What would you include in such a checklist?

First - the practical. Doctor's name, where's the will, your desires regarding any minor children ... what else?

Second - the emotional. Would you tell your children you are proud of them? To stop smoking? Dump their lousy mate? What else?

Is there anything you would change about what your parents did? Have you made a checklist yet? If so, what's on it?

Also, if you are incapacitated but don't die, what then?

I have a client who has all her medications listed and taped to the inside of her kitchen cabinet and all her family knows where to find it. Do you have any other ideas like that?

Thanks to all in advance for your suggestions. Please post or send me FreeperMail.

[JD86]

Sorry, I should have posted it twice...:) See #432 and #434

and thanks for your input.

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

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[JD86]

See #432 and #434

and thanks for your input.

[1 FELLOW FREEPER]

You are welcome.

[Silly]

I don't know what I'm supposed to be looking for. If you have an announcement, wait until you post it before pinging me. Also, I didn't see anything on your profile page.

[SCalGal]

We didn't think of it either; I think it's something new. And Thank You, I will.

[LarryLied]

What is the announcement? I don't see anything.

[FReethesheeples]

Very thoughtful.

We should never forget the basics: e.g., telling our children we love and are proud of them.

[F16Fighter]

LOL - True story? Payback...what is it again? Oh that's right -- A BITCH!

[P-Marlowe]

That story had a ring of untruth to it, so I went on a search. The guy did not win a Criminal Lawyers's Darwin Award, but the story is in the Urban Legends Hall of Fame.

Urban Legends Page

[JD86]

Thanks for the clarification. I hope you enjoyed the story as an urban legend....and I am relieved to know no attorney was actually that ......well, you know.

Thank you for your input into making this thread a success.

[freekitty]

Sounds like the Judge in this case wasn't stupid. He didn't define what kind of fire? That's hilarious, and it shows you what goes around comes around. It also looks like some lawyers were wide awake(insurance company).

[nicmarlo]

This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Darwin Award Contest

I read this before, maybe in the journal For the Defense. I thought it was hilarious.

Question about pre-nups for second (or whatever) marriages: what if neither spouse has much assets (no property/house); and little 401K carried over from before second marriage, etc.? In other words, if second marriage is where the couple will, in effect, gather their greatest material possessions, what need would there be for a prenuptial? Can not the small amount of material possessions be in a Will (i.e., jewelery and collectibles of hers to go to her children)?

[JD86]

If neither spouse has many asssets...and neither spouse has children from a previous marriage...there is no need for a pre-nupt. However, if there are children, a pre-nupt can be a good idea even if the assets are small. It is just a way to make a list of what is owned prior to the second marriage. In some states that is very important. Let me give you a specific example. I have two sons from my first marriage....if I ever married again I would want whatever I have now to go to my sons. Whatever my new husband and I accumulate would be ours together. With a pre-nupt, if we did split up it would be easy to prove what I already owned before we got married. Again, laws are different in different states, so check with an attorney in your state if this situation applies to you.

[Mustang]

Tomorrow is promised to no one.

[JD86]

Excellent point. All we have are here and now. That's why prior preparation is a good thing.

[RightOnline]

Just a quick note, JD.........I like this thread. This is the type of intelligent, informative discussion that has kept me on FR this long. No, it may not directly involve "politics", etc., but despite your title wherein you appear to be asking for help, no doubt sincerely, in the process you started something that has helped many of us think seriously about a very important topic. I've gotten some terrific ideas from fellow FReepers (no surprise there; these are a damned smart bunch of people we hang with..:) ), and I hope you can say the same. Keep up the great work, and God bless.

[summer]

Great post #434! What a story!!! :)

[JD86]

Thank you for your comments, and for your contribution to the thread. You are right that I have learned a great deal of practical information from the FReepers.

I am going to compile the suggestions and post them on my profile page, and I will send you notice when it is up. One person wrote and suggested that I put this thread up annually as a review. In a year's time we will have new FReepers and the old ones will have more experiences to share. God Bless You and Your Family.