Tag: family information binder

How to Create a Family Information Binder

How to Create a Family Information Binder

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What is the best way to communicate with family members about your medical, financial, and legal documents and information? Create a Family Information Binder.

When my Florida law practice drafted estate planning documents, we would present our clients with a Legal & Financial Family Information Binder. This was a binder where they could put all their estate planning documents and important financial information in one place.

We called it the “911 Binder,” meaning that when you got a call from the hospital, you had one place to go to for the Health Care Power of Attorney. If you needed to go to a bank, you had the Financial Power of Attorney as well as a list of bank accounts and the key to a safety deposit box.

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Checklist for a death in the family – what to do after a loss

Checklist for a death in the family – what to do after a loss

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A death in the family is one of the most stressful events you will experience. As you grieve, you face multiple administrative tasks. First, you must make final arrangements. Then you go through probate to settle your loved one’s affairs. And in between, you manage the many little details following a death. However, if you use a checklist for death in the family, you can manage all these responsibilities.

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10 estate planning resolutions to make this year

10 estate planning resolutions to make this year

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As you ring in the new year, consider some estate planning resolutions to protect and provide for loved ones. After all the surprises of the past year, estate planning is now more important than ever. However estate planning may seem burdensome and scary. What should you do? These 10 estate planning resolutions can help you start a comprehensive estate plan.

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Brick wall moments – dealing with stubborn aging parents

Brick wall moments – dealing with stubborn aging parents

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Are you a caregiver for your aging parents? At the very least, are you concerned about them as they age? Wouldn’t it be lovely to help your parents without any objections?

As if!  What if you have stubborn aging parents?

When talking with your parents about aging issues and suggesting help for them you will most likely have many “brick wall moments.” This is when a reasonable suggestion or a suggestion made from a place of love is met with strenuous resistance, to put it mildly.

Either the parent puts up a brick wall and won’t entertain the idea. Or you will want to hit your head against a brick wall in frustration. Oftentimes, both are true.

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10 ways to help as a long-distance caregiver

10 ways to help as a long-distance caregiver

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Being a long-distance caregiver is a challenge when you live in one state and your aging parents live in another. Or if you have a busy job that keeps you from hands-on caregiving. Or if a sibling is providing more local care and you can’t be there. And caregiving responsibilities are on the rise. According to AARP, nearly 1 in 5 Americans provide care to an adult.  If you are a long-distance caregiver there is plenty for you to do to help your family.

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Interview on The Income Generation Show

Interview on The Income Generation Show

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Interview with David Scranton on the Income Generation - Air Date 3/7/2019

I was honored to be asked back on the Income Generation Show with David J. Scranton. Although it was a brief interview, we covered many important topics:

  • Why is estate planning important to the “Sandwich Generation”?

  • How estate planning is as important during your life as it is at your death

  • How can you encourage aging parents to get started on their estate planning

  • How to organize legal documents in case of emergency: The 911 Binder

  • Three pieces of advice for estate planning

Click on the above link to watch the clip.

Help parents downsize and keep the peace – 6 tips

Help parents downsize and keep the peace – 6 tips

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Want to help your aging parents downsize in preparation for a move? Tread carefully!

Recognize that this is an emotional time for them.  Your parents have spent a lifetime accumulating possessions so it may be hard for them to be objective. Be sensitive to their feeling and try not to be pushy. The whole process may take longer than you like. Unless you have a certain deadline such as a house sale, try to follow their timetable for getting rid of items.

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How to talk to aging parents – tips for a family meeting

How to talk to aging parents – tips for a family meeting

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Getting together with family, especially during the holidays, is a great opportunity to catch up with your parents. As your parents age, you and your siblings may want to talk with them about any health concerns and their future plans.

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It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

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Did you know October 19 – October 25th, 2020 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week?

Now you do!

Here are some fun facts:

  • National Estate Planning Awareness Week is celebrated in the 3rd week of October.

  • The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) led the effort to educate people about the importance of estate planning.

  • It was passed by Congress in 2008.

And here are not so fun facts:

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For richer or poorer: Having a financial conversation with your spouse

For richer or poorer: Having a financial conversation with your spouse

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Having a financial conversation with your spouse may be harder than scheduling a date night. While it may be boring and uncomfortable going over finances and budgets, it is important for your family’s financial health. Talking about spending and saving gets you and your spouse on the same page working together towards your shared goals.

Many times, one spouse primarily pays the bills and manages the money. What happens if the spouse handling the money suddenly becomes incapacitated or dies? The spouse left behind has to figure out everything.

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