|
New Page 1
|
 |
How Well Prepared For The Inevitable Are You? [And What's It Gonna Take To Get You Off The Dime And Get Your Affairs In Order?]
July 25, 2002
|
Dose of Dover For The Week: Two people that I had worked with over the last several years passed away last week. One was 44, the other 40...and both far too young "to go." But their stories have the chance to serve as a wake-up call for all of us about several key end-of-life issues.
Jerry Betsill was an attorney in Fort Worth; he handled some legal business for me several years ago and was a good guy with an infectiously positive attitude. Jerry was only 44 when the private, single-engine plane in which he, his daughter, niece and brother we flying, crashed in Maui almost two weeks ago.
Many of you knew Paula McClure from her stint as co-host of Good Morning Texas on WFAA-TV/Channel 8. I got to know Paula when I worked with her in my role as the show's "consumer expert." She was another one that could just light up a room, but unfortunately her enthusiasm and positive attitude were no match for the brain cancer that took her life at the age of 40. Other than the fact that both passed away prematurely, Paula had the "benefit" of knowing her final days were approaching. This gave her a unique chance to get her personal affairs in order, as well as an opportunity to tell those close to her how she felt about them.
But Jerry's situation was one I think all of us fear the most...that of course being snatched away with no warning. So let me take this chance to ask you some tough questions:
- Are your affairs in order? When was the last time you updated your Will?
- Do you have a Medical Power of Attorney drawn and in force?
- When was the last time you updated these legal papers? Where are they located?
- Who has copies? If the only copies are locked away in a safety deposit box, you could be creating a bigger set of problems for your heirs and survivors.
- What about insurance? When was the last time you updated your policies? Do you need to update the list of beneficiaries? If there have been any marriages, divorces, births or deaths since the last time you reviewed any of the items outlined, then there's a good chance they're out of date and need to be reviewed at once.
Baseball great Ted Williams' recent passing spotlighted another transitional hot-button. Does your family know exactly how you'd like your remains handled? Do you want to be cremated or buried? This also needs to be in writing, and preferably within some form of legal framework like a Will. Considering that (statistically, anyway) over 70% of you do not have a Will (or a current Will anyway) this needs to rise to the top of your "To Do" list this weekend...agreed?
Is what I'm discussing and the circumstances surrounding my desire to discuss them in bad taste?
Nope.
I'd be willing to bet that Jerry and Paula would have expected no less from me...and I suspect that they would have encouraged and embraced it. What is in bad taste is not being prepared for the inevitable and forcing your (tangled) affairs be sorted out by emotionally-stressed survivors.
Let me guess: Your kids get along so well that they'd have no problem agreeing on how to split your estate...right? Your ex-spouses are all such good friends that you know they'd be able to divvy up your assets without any ill-feelings...right?
Yeah, you betcha. Do yourself and your family a favor and have a candid discussion soon, while you've got a chance. Call your insurance agent and review your policies. Don't have any insurance? Maybe it's time you did. I've got a check list and some pretty good resources that I hope you'll take time to read through on the website: www.bendover.com/beprepared.asp
Aside from the legal issues and stuff that goes with this territory, I hope that when you finish reading this column you'll either pick up a phone, write a note, or fire off an e-mail to those people in your life that mean the most to you.
Because as Jerry and Paula's passing reminded me one more time, life really is too short.
|
|
|
|
|
