I have observed more than one of my clients looking for a will after their loved one passed away. The more information you give your loved ones in advance about your last wishes, the better.
One client’s wife passed away over two years before I met
him. He finally decided that he wanted to move to senior living to enjoy the
amenities, dining, and social activities. He was becoming sad looking at all
the memories in the house without his dear wife.
Well, the house had been paid off for over ten years and the
deed was in both the husband’s and wife’s names. Now he needed to
find the wife’s will to be able to remove her name from the deed. We sat in his
dining room and looked through documents. Finally, we found her will in a
kitchen drawer
The next step was to contact an eldercare attorney to send
the will to the probate court. Once all documents were filed at the probate
court and returned, we were able to put the house up for sale in the husband’s
name only (with the new deed).
My client moved to senior living with the items he wanted to
keep. We had an estate sale, packed things to be given to family members and
staged the house. After professional photos were taken, the house went on the
market and sold.
Here are 5 tips to help you and your loved ones:
- Let your family know where your will is. Is it in
the bank in a security box, a safe in your at your house, the attorney’s office, etc.
- Keep a notebook with all your accounts and passwords
in it. Do not mark it in any way that indicates all your passwords and accounts
in it but DO let your family know where the important notebook is located and
what color it is
- Your family and caregiver should know where your
health directive is located.
- Does your family know if you want to be buried
in the family plot, the veteran’s cemetery or cremated?
- Would you like a religious service? Have you already made any final arrangements?
It's nice to make everyone happy in a real estate
transaction and that is my specialty. If you need help just call me at 678-656-6627.
Remember “No One Sells A House Like A Mom!”
#PamSantoroRealtor
