where there is a will

The promised exploration of other possibilities for healthy fun activities gives way today to a topic that is taboo for many. Out of necessity and a sense of urgency I digress.

The subject of mortality may conjure up all sorts of negative images in one’s mind but as my BFF so elegantly put it this weekend on her visit home to attend 3 funerals “what the hell, everyone has to die.”  That was in response to my statement that I was not attending the funerals. It is true that death is inevitable yet for some inexplicable reason a majority of persons are reluctant to prepare instructions for the distribution of their property when they no longer have use for it. If I had a dollar for the number of times persons say they have to think about and make a Will I would be far better off financially than at present. Persons make up all kind of excuses why they don’t follow through. The most common reason being you that because you have no land/ house there is no need. However, your personal property like jewelry, clothing, vehicles, furniture, bank CD, shares and other cherished items can form the basis for your Will ensuring that these things go to the person(s) you want to have them. If you die without having a Will the law will determine how your belongings are distributed among your surviving relatives, even the ones you don’t like.

Death can attend at any time. I had one niece who died at age 14 another at 36, both in good health without warning. Conversely, my maternal grandmother passed away at age 104, my paternal grandmother at 97. There is no set time, but at this stage of our lives it is presumed that retirees have all the necessary instruments of conveyance prepared for that eventuality. If not, I cannot emphasize sufficiently the necessity of making a will. My paternal grandmother made her Will 15 years prior to her death. Of course at that time most of the property listed had already been disposed of by her, which brings to bear the need to review and update the Will as circumstances change something she had not done.

 Your last Will and Testament need not be a sophiscated document written in old English on parchment paper. It can be as simple as a handwritten document signed and witnessed by at least two persons. The Legal Aid Clinic associated with the Department of Social Welfare offers assistance to persons and from time to time hold workshops explaining the intricacies of estate planning (including wills). Templates and forms to help can also be found on the internet.  Any lawyer can assist you, for a small fee, with making a will and can update it as you deem necessary. Of course you can change your mind about who gets what whenever you want to. You should know that there is another type of Will called a Living Will this would come into effect if you are seriously injured and cannot speak for yourself to give instructions to doctors. Information such as if you are brain dead and on life support do you want to be removed or resuscitated this document instructs who to do what and when. Also contained can be instructions as to donation of your body parts and disposal of your remains. Give some serious thought to the making a will while you cannot speak from the grave you can beforehand. The most important difference between the two Wills is that one speaks after you die the other when you are not dead but cannot speak for yourself. You need both.

Whew… that was some heavy stuff and understandably persons avoid speaking of it. But now it is out of the way and can we continue to focus on living a ridiculously awesome life.