5 Tips To Make Sure Your Final Wishes Are Handled As You Want

 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

www.pamsantoro.com