Learn how to plan your estate to make a most difficult time for you
loved ones simple, quick, and fair.
Coping with the death of a loved one is a multi-faceted problem. The
emotional and psychological issues can linger unresolved far longer than
the myriad and mundane tasks of gathering together assets and disposing
of them. The primary reason we take the time to write a will or trust is
not for our sake. It is to be sure that the legal process for our heirs
is simple, quick, and fair, reflecting not just our wishes but also
being mindful of the expectations and needs of those we leave behind.
There may be decisions to be made for a surviving spouse such as whether
to maintain the marital home, down-sizing, or using senior living
facilities.
Estate Planning from the Heart for Everyone is a step-by-step guide on
how to make and execute these decisions. The next analysis is the
actions that must be taken after death. Planning ahead for procedures
for distribution of clothing, household goods, family heirlooms, and
such is a major problem. Decluttering is a good idea but it is difficult
and most often falls on the family who may differing views on how to
handle the "stuff" we all accumulate. Interpersonal dynamics are
addressed by family members and others who may second guess the actions
and decisions of those in charge of the estate.
Throughout the book, author and lawyer Ronald Farrington Sharpuses an
"Ask the Lawyer" format to describe some common and even unusual
questions friends and clients have posed to him. He answers the
practical as well as legal aspects of the questions asked with suggested
solutions to the concerns raised.
