Final Estate Planning is for Everyone - Your Never Too Young

No one knew. Jack’s 21th birthday was only a few months away and collage would be starting in the fall. He and his young bride Alice had done so well and overcome a number of obstacles just to get this far. At eighteen, while high school sweethearts, the two married awaiting the arrival of their first born due only seven months later. The arrival was bitter - sweet , the baby’s lungs hadn’t completely developed thus medical bills were piling up. Although his truck driving job was meeting basic needs they were barely making it. With a promise of an advancement at work - Jack was excited, a few collage courses would provide the promise of added income to meet his families needs ... the future looked bright. However, just before their second anniversary, while returning home from visiting relatives in a nearby town, their car was suddenly broad sided killing Jack and Alice instantly while their baby lay sound asleep in the arms of grandma only a few miles away.

The expected (death) does happen unexpectedly and no one can know when , how or who will be left behind. Jack and Alice, like many, had started preplanning for their future life together, yet like most, hadn’t begun to preplan for the ?what if’s? that life also brings. Much like Jack and Alice we all want the best for those we love, while we are here and even after we’ve gone. Unfortunately not everyone wants to think or talk about death and dying nor it’s possible impact on those left behind. Thus, too many families are completely unprepared to address even the basic needs of funding funeral arrangements and / or providing for minor children once death does occur. For some families this has meant the forced sale of personal possessions, borrowing money and/or pleading for donations and the states intervention via the probate process.

Since, we do live in a society where people do preplan for just about every other major event in their lives, ie: marriage, children, college, retirement and even their next meal, end of life issues must be added to the list. According to the National Funeral Service & Final Estate Planning Network, final estate planning can no longer be viewed as a a morbid topic but one of caring and loving behavior engaged in by responsible individuals because it just makes sound business sense. This means that all possible end of life issues must be preplanned while an individual is healthy - not while sick or ... after a painful event occurs.

But where do you begin? Since there is a rapidly growing trend in the U.S. towards final estate preplanning, the process has been made easier and more affordable. Today everyone can engage in low cost preplanning! Although viewed as somewhat time consuming and confusing, the rules are simple. If you are 18 years or older, have any children or personal belongings that can’t be buried with you , you need to begin preplanning! However, the key to complete preplanning is asking the right questions based on “If you died today? Denise Parker, founder of the National Funeral Service & Final Estate Planning Network, has simplified the process by designing a simple four point questionnaire, listed below, to get you pointed in the right direction.

Questions to Ask Yourself:

* What is to happen with your assets? This would include any personnel property, monies, vehicles etc. you own or your name has title on.

* How have you provided for your responsibilities? This would include any and all monies you owe ie: debts (bills don’t die because we do), maintaining the standard of living for surviving spouse and or minor children, pets, etc

* What do you want done with your body before and after death? This would include life support instructions ie: advance health care directives, organ donation requests and funeral and / or internment arrangements.

* What have you done to document and fund all of the above? This would include life insurance, wills, trusts, advance health care directives, preneed funeral arrangements etc.

If you have already begun preplanning good for you! Don’t stop, Etienne de Grellet once said, ?I shall pass through this world but once. If there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do, let me do it now; let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.?