Estate Planning

[Great-Kazoo]

If you or family members don't have a will, what you'd like loved ones do with you after you pass. I suggest you get to it.

Many a year ago while dealing with my aunts rapid fading from reality, where she wasn't too far gone for my mom to take charge, but not coherent enough to manage her estate. I was informed our parents not only had no Will, they hadn't bothered to make plans for them being gone. Fortunately with much pushing by us kids they took care of it.

Fast forward to last week when i received the call our dad was gone, 5 years after mom. My sister being the executor started putting money towards his funeral and other related items after mom passed. Had she not handled this we would have been hit with a bill that would have cost us a lot of time & money. Something one really isn't focused on at the time, with everything else going on.

I posted this because when our aunt passed a month ago, they had nothing planned. Nothing, will, funeral arraignments, etc. The lack of any planning is still being dealt with today. Not sure what cost are here. On the east coast, those funeral business have some game.

The TL/DR version

Get your estate in order sooner, than later.

[fportmen45]

I'm sorry for your loss, Jim.

[20X11]

Yep, lost mom in 2014, dad this past summer. Thank God they had the foresight to do proper estate planning. Have since created my estate plan...working on the wife's and her parents. Condolences Jim...and thank you for posting the reminder.

[Great-Kazoo]

I'm sorry for your loss, Jim.

Thanks, his time was here. Between memory fading, health questionable. BUT most of all his $%^&* hard head, PITA Italian leave me the fuk alone to the point of worrisome. I'm not quitting cigars or giving up my gun. We feel he sat down , closed his eyes joining mom.

After passing i found out why he smoked cigars, since i could remember. He was on guard duty during the police action in Korea, unlit stogie in mouth. Cigar falls out of mouth, he bends down to pick it up. BAM, BAM, BAM. rounds hit the post where he moments before was standing.

https://scontent.fapa1-2.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/15391122_1045582072231275_5946753975980672431_n.jp g?oh=80205d836faf12625da0d43458ef9991&oe=58B0D50E

[Fentonite]

I'm sorry for your loss of your dad. And thanks for the PSA.

[fportmen45]

He sounds, and looks like, a bad-ass through and through.

[Gman]

Sorry about your loss.

I did this after my 1st wife passed. It made my mortality a reality. I put the house and assets in a living trust. When I got married to my current bride, we re-visited and had the estate plan updated. It costs a little bit up-front, but it saves survivors a huge headache later.

Having advanced medical directives, a living will, and medical power of attorney documentation are also a benefit before we exit this mortal coil.

[Ah Pook]

Lost Mom 6/14. Lost my brother 12/15. Still dealing with both estates.
My Mother had a will but is being contested at all ends, even with no reason.
My Brother's estate has had no contest but is being fawked buy one Co in OK.

Can't answer but to say make sure the attorney writing the will is current.

[StagLefty]

Sorry for your loss Jim.
I thought about all this when I retired and paid for cremation service and made sure everything is in my son's name for after my passing. The bank's have something I can't remember the name of it but any funds left in the bank go to him after my death-he can't touch it while I'm alive but his name is on my accounts.

[Skip]

[snip]

After passing i found out why he smoked cigars, since i could remember. He was on guard duty during the police action in Korea, unlit stogie in mouth. Cigar falls out of mouth, he bends down to pick it up. BAM, BAM, BAM. rounds hit the post where he moments before was standing.



Sorry for your loss too.

That's actually a really cool story and a solid pro-smoking PSA. ;)

[Rumline]

I'm sorry for your loss, GK.

My mother in law refuses to look into this stuff. She's a hardcore lib so I guess you could say personal responsibility is not one of her strong suits. I know nothing about this subject; does anybody have any recommended websites that go over options for how to handle this in Colorado? She has no real assets to speak of, I just want to make sure everything is nailed down ahead of time.

[Pistol Packing Preacher]

How about firearms in the will going to sons and daughters. I rent and have not much left. What happens to firearms?

[asmo]

My condolences on your loss.

Great advice on getting your estate in order. When my mother passed it was an utter PITA to get her affairs squared up - took forever and a bunch of legal action, even though it was a really straight forward estate. When my grandfather passed, he had already gone through the estate planning process (after seeing what happened when my mother passed) and it was a simple breeze that took no trouble to get closed out. Major difference.

[osok-308]

Sorry for your loss. I will heed this message as well.

[Great-Kazoo]

How about firearms in the will going to sons and daughters. I rent and have not much left. What happens to firearms?

For us an attorney was used. This way if something is contested there's a warm body to go back to, instead of some web site. Believe me someone , somewhere will contest the stupidest shit. As you've read in some of the replies.

Set up a will, trust what ever one feels is necessary to distribute ANY items . You'd be surprised what a family member "thinks" is there's.
One of my sisters came up with the I Want because i was told i could have it when i was 10 yrs old.
Yeah guess what you're 45 now.. TFB.

For items not listed everyone's name go in a hat item is looked at and name drawn. IF for some reason there's disagreement how to deal with items. As eldest sibling EVERYTHING IS MINE . That i will then dispense without any arguments. Solved that problem real fast.

As mentioned before get these things done sooner than later.

Also we appreciate the kind words & thoughts.

[spqrzilla]

The bank's have something I can't remember the name of it but any funds left in the bank go to him after my death-he can't touch it while I'm alive but his name is on my accounts.

POD - Pay On Death

[spqrzilla]

How about firearms in the will going to sons and daughters. I rent and have not much left. What happens to firearms?

Firearms are just ordinary personal property in the Estate. If not specifically gifted to specific person(s), they fall into whatever residuary clause is in the will. Federal law allows the personal representative to distribute firearms without an FFL, but consult an attorney familiar with the details of Federal and state law on such transfers to stay within the letter of the law.

By the way, if there is no will, then the intestacy statute of the state where the person resided at the time of their death applies. Often, people have the wrong idea of what the intestacy statute actually says. I currently have a probate case where the deceased woman's parents' falsely believe that they have inherited real estate that she owned. She had a spouse and children who inherited. I get to do an eviction, hooray!

[legaleagle]

All great comments. Happy to consult with those who want an estate plan. It is amazing what people will fight over and why. Send me pm and we can set up a time.

[Irving]

All great comments. Happy to consult with those who want an estate plan. It is amazing what people will fight over and why. Send me pm and we can set up a time.

I tried to send you a pm earlier, but my sister got mad and said that she should be the one to contact you.

[SideShow Bob]

It is amazing what people will fight over and why.

^^ This ^^ In spades.... Umm, no racial undertones intended.

Witnessed this when the first Ex wife's grandmother passed years ago. Everyone in that family turned into selfish hyenas.

[wctriumph]

Please accept our condolences and our prayers. May God Speed.

[Grant H.]

Prayers and thoughts for your family during this time of loss. It's never easy.

Always a good reminder for folks to put things in order, no matter what age you are. A friend of mine was just found murdered, and now her family has to deal with everything.

I had a good friend (older) from church that pulled me and my wife aside once we were both 21, and pretty much forced us to create trusts, we went with 2 singles and 1 joint, identify beneficiaries, at least start the discussion of documenting final wishes (what to do if we are incapacitated - DNR, no long term life support, organ donation, whatever details we both wanted), and just generally get this stuff sorted out and organized.

Well worth doing. It gives a peace of mind knowing that my wife wouldn't have to much of anything, and wouldn't get raped on taxes...