| iv> | | | | * How do I collect social security? |
| "It Can Happen to You"by: Joyce Moseley Pierce | | | | * Whose advice can I trust? |
| You see it every day on the news. You get up and | | | | If you don’t know the answers to these |
| turn thetv on in the morning and learn that while you | | | | questions, now is agood time for you to start |
| were sleeping,others were involved in accidents that | | | | thinking about them. What are somethings you can |
| caused their death. As onefriend put it, "You watch | | | | do to be better prepared for these situations? |
| the news and think that somehow yourfamily is | | | | 1. Talk to your spouse (and don’t forget your |
| protected from these tragedies. After all, | | | | parents) and explainthe importance of working |
| thesepeople don't live in your neighborhood. They | | | | together to put this informationtogether now. |
| come from adifferent social class. They were in the | | | | Accidents aren’t something we schedule! |
| wrong place atthe wrong time." It wasn't until his 21 | | | | 2. Gather important papers. Include birth |
| year-old sister waskilled in a skiing accident that he | | | | certificates,pre-paid funeral arrangements, military |
| realized that all ofhis justifications were wrong. Your | | | | records, current bankand credit card statements, |
| family most certainlycan be affected. | | | | wills, safe deposit information |
| Donna had asked her husband to write some things | | | | (bank, box number, authorized signers, contents), |
| down forher before his flight to the Middle East | | | | employmentinformation - insurance, savings plans, |
| several years ago. | | | | retirement accounts, etc.,savings account |
| He scratched some things out on the back of an | | | | statements, stock certificates, loan |
| envelope andtold her she was being silly. He returned | | | | agreements,automobile titles, health and life insurance. |
| from that trip,but a few short months later was killed | | | | 3. Discuss the disposition of personal items. This |
| by a drunk driver. | | | | willhelp avoid family feuds when it comes time to |
| At least Donna had something to start with, but she | | | | decide who shouldget grandfather's watch or |
| wasn'tprepared for all of the questions the funeral | | | | mother's pearls. |
| home firedat her. She knew what bank accounts | | | | 4. Make copies of these documents and file the |
| they had, and had helpedwith paying the bills over | | | | originalsin a safe place. A fireproof safe at home is |
| the years, but what about funeralarrangements? Did | | | | recommendedso you'll have access to them on the |
| he want to be buried in Louisiana with hisparents, or | | | | weekend. You might evenconsider scanning them and |
| here in Texas where she and her family | | | | saving them to a CD. |
| lived?cremation or burial? What about the obituary | | | | 5. Keep the information up to date. Decide to go |
| for thenewspaper? Did she have all of the accurate | | | | throughthese records at least annually to make sure |
| informationthey needed to write it? | | | | the informationhasn't changed. Take this opportunity |
| Her emotions were raw as she tried to deal with the | | | | to discard outdatedinformation. |
| realityof it all. Was this all just a bad dream that | | | | 6. Make sure someone in your family, and a trusted |
| would soonend? She just wanted to go home and | | | | familyfriend, knows where this information is stored |
| grieve, but there weretoo many things to think | | | | so it can beretrieved at a moment's notice. The |
| about. | | | | fireproof box is a goodplace to keep it along with |
| * How long will it take to settle the estate? | | | | your original documents, but besure to put it back |
| * Will I have enough cash to live on until then? | | | | each time you update the information. |
| * Will the insurance come before they foreclose on | | | | You are doing your family a disservice if you don't |
| the house? | | | | prepare thisinformation for them while you're able. It |
| * Where is the real copy of the will? | | | | doesn’t make senseto provide for them |
| * How can I prove stock ownership? | | | | throughout your life, only to leave themstruggling |
| * Do I know about all bank accounts and insurance | | | | when they need your guidance more than ever. |
| policies? | | | | |