Good morning everyone! This week is flying by and I am pretty happy about that. I am about 70% caught up on work which makes me happy but I did over do it this week. Going to take it easy for the rest of the week & weekend because I don’t want to relapse at all.
Today’s Topic: As most of you know…before I landed in the hospital we were busy closing out my Auntie’s estate, making memorial service & funeral arrangements and all of that jazz. Even though auntie has been gone for a total month (as of today) it is still a hard & long process. I never realized everything that we would have to do and thought it would be a quicker & easier process. Sigh.
Have any of you ever had to go through this? If so, how long did it take for you to close up everything and finalize it all? Did you do this on your own or did you hire legal help to assist you? Any tips or advice for us?
My mom spent all of March in the hospital…..she is home now, but not doing so well. Medicare is cutting off the VNS visits….I am not looking forward to the future. That being said, my cousin is an attorney and she is the executor of Mom’s will. I am Mom’s Health Care Proxy…I INSISTED she fill it out, since my dad left no living will or proxy, and once it was hopeless, there were emails, faxes. snail mails, and phone calls back and forth to the hospital Ethics Committee about how to end his artificially maintain “life”. (((HUGS))) to you, Shelly, for all you are going through now….as for the ambulance bills, tell them they can stick it where the sun don’t shine. (pardon my French). Don’t give them a penny.
I have been through 3 estates so far and the biggest learning is for the deceased: please have a will, keep it updated and let the named executor a) have a copy, b) have access to (if not be a joint owner where appropriate) on the significant assets in the will. Unless the estate is complex (eg trusts, no/lost/outdated will, lots of interpersonal controversies) I have not needed a lawyer. However, it does take time. If your estate has issues, be kind and spend the money on an estate lawyer before you pass away! It will be less expensive that your inheritors spending the money (and aggravation) after you die!
Love your advice! My auntie did have all of the legal paperwork and so forth done and current. It is amazing that she has been gone exactly a month now and bills for her care just keep rolling in. She was really ill the last 65 days of her life and her money is almost gone. Once it is gone, closing the bank accounts and these creditors will have to go elsewhere with their harassment.
Right now I am fighting the ambulance company who put her 2 ambulance bills into my name and under my address and NONE of those transports were for me. Medicare denied payment to the ambulance company so they took it out of her name and so forth and put it under me. Whatever, I am not paying it.
Settling and estate is indeed a difficult process. I do recommend that you have an attorney guide you through the process. Not only will the attorney be able to file any court papers, but he or she will be able to help you with things you didn’t even know you had to do. In any case, I wish you the best. And don’t forget to keep taking care of yourself, first and foremost.
Congrats to the winners.
I am sorry to hear about your aunt and that you were in the hospital recently. Been some time since I’ve been here thanks to a new cancer drug they are trying to kill me with. But I digress.
When my mom died she left no will, had her papers scattered from one end of the house to the other, from bills to taxes. It was a mess!
My advice is this. Make sure you know where papers are kept, that you, or someone you trust, is already on their bank account(s), and don’t let other family members try to “help” unless you want it.
Congratulations to the 2 winners.
I am glad that you are feeling a little better and as you said you are going to be careful to not overdo it this week
I don’t have any advice about the process of arranging and closing things down. If your auntie left instructions and a will you should be able to follow that. If you are having real difficulties (other than the fact that it takes time to do everything) then consult a professional.