Living Will

[DJD]

Well after spending two weeks in Florida trying to help my family deal with my Dad's terminal illness I have a HUGE suggestion for all of you. Get your financial affairs, living will, power of attorney, living trust or what ever you end up doing completed asap.

My Dad has a will but thats it. The debt he is leaving and his loss of income is gonna be tough for my Mom and the rest of us. I spent time on the phone and time in the banks everyday I was there. He is still living but he won't last long since we decided to let him pass peacefully at the Hospice House....**** tough decision but the right one.

I guess I'm just saying to do your family a favor and get things in order so you don't put them throught his heartbreaking mess.

[MrSplitshot]

Don,

I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad...you know if you need anything, call me. Be glad to help anyway I can. You're doing the right thing letting him pass peacefully.

I agree 100% on the living will stuff also. If I've learned anything through the loss of Stacy's Dad, the issues we've had with her Mom after her aneurysm, and others...it's that the will, estate, life insurance, plans for getting by, etc have got to be in order. I know it's unbelievably hard if they are not, so I feel for you.

Keep strong...prayers for you bud.

[BanditMan]

That's a very good idea Don. So sorry for your loss , if you or the family need anything at all let me know.

[Chubminnow]

Done I'm sorry to hear what's happening there with you and your family...man oh man, the decisions we have to make in life sometimes sure are tough one's...hang in there man.

[bassin_bug]

Well after spending two weeks in Florida trying to help my family deal with my Dad's terminal illness I have a HUGE suggestion for all of you. Get your financial affairs, living will, power of attorney, living trust or what ever you end up doing completed asap.

__________________

Truer words were never spoken. I am so sorry that you and your family are having to go through so much heartbreak and stress. Please know that I understand and we will keep you in our prayers.

I'm not trying to steal your thread but want to explain that, in spite of our best efforts, things can still get tough. My mom had a Living Will and things happened so suddenly we would have been in a mess if she hadn't. We told her that doctors said she was going to Heaven that day, and asked her if she still wanted us to honor her Living Will. She smiled and said, "Yes, I'm ready to go now." We told the doctor to keep her comfortable and let her go in peace. Within an hour she fell into eternal sleep. She had made a Will, named beneficiaries on her insurance, pre-arranged and paid for her funeral and gravestone, written her funeral arrangements, had another member on her bank accounts so we could have ready access to her money and pay her household bills, and left some cash in her safe deposit box.

Exactly 30 days later we had to deal with my brother's death from an auto accident. He had a Will, named beneficiaries on his insurance, bank accounts, stocks, investments, and held a Bank CD to pay for his funeral expense.

It all seemed like everything was in order but there was something we hadn't counted on; dealing with the life insurance companies. The car insurance paid within 6 weeks but the life insurance companies are another thing. We provided them with everything they required and couldn't get a straight answer from either of them for months. I have filed one insuance claim 5 times already and, because The Hartford Ins. Company bought our carrier out, they keep tossing it back and forth between them; I've finally managed to "nail" the claims administrator who caused the problems. Other companies didn't want to make payment to the beneficiaries but wanted to pay to the estates. We had to fight that to keep from bringing in extended family members who were not named as beneficiaries and were not named in the Wills. Toss into the mix $2,500 to the attorney for filing EACH Will($5,000 total), plus court cost and ad fees; the whole mess is enough to drive a person insane. No consideration is given to the fact that the family is trying to handle the shock and grief and needs a kind word and some assistance at the time. The insurance companies were so hateful it felt like they had turned a pack of mean Pit Bulls loose on us.

[Devils Horse]

Well after spending two weeks in Florida trying to help my family deal with my Dad's terminal illness I have a HUGE suggestion for all of you. Get your financial affairs, living will, power of attorney, living trust or what ever you end up doing completed asap.

My Dad has a will but thats it. The debt he is leaving and his loss of income is gonna be tough for my Mom and the rest of us. I spent time on the phone and time in the banks everyday I was there. He is still living but he won't last long since we decided to let him pass peacefully at the Hospice House....**** tough decision but the right one.

I guess I'm just saying to do your family a favor and get things in order so you don't put them throught his heartbreaking mess.

I'm sorry for your loss Don, my condolences and best wishes to you and your family.

Thanks for the advice.

[Bobby Headrick]

Sorry to hear what you are going thru Don and if you need anything or jsut someone to talk too let me or anyone here know, we are thinking of you. I know it is hard, been there done that, with my mother. so I know the heartache and pain and then having to deal with banks and such. Hang in there, we will be thinking of you and your family.

[roadrunner]

Don I am sorry for your situation, my prayer and thoughts are for your family in this tough time.

Your suggestions are right on and coming from some one who is living this scenario they really hit home.

Thanks for your thoughts and advice.

[DJD]

Thanks for all the support, it really helps. Thanks again.

[stoner]

Hey Don,
Sorry to here you're losing a father, my prayers are with you.
Chad

[mhall]

Don, I am very sorry to hear about your father. Chuck and I spoke of this together on the river the other night and both feared the worst. Good luck friend and best wishes to you and your family during this extremely rough time.

[DJD]

Don, I am very sorry to hear about your father. Chuck and I spoke of this together on the river the other night and both feared the worst. Good luck friend and best wishes to you and your family during this extremely rough time.

Thanks guys we are doing pretty good. Dad's outlook seems to go up and down daily but we have him on the Hospice list. Heck of a man, he grew up as a farm boy in Georgia, served 30 years in the Navy, owned a few franchises and worked his butt off for the family. They don't make them any better, heck of a man.