It ain't sexy, but....

I've been meaning to post this for quite some time, but have never quite found the time. Somehow, today, it seems important.

A few weeks ago, I was talking with my parents about changes to wills and powers of attorney and all sorts of that stuff. Yeah, it sounds morbid to talk about "what do you want me to do when you're gone" but it's VITAL to find out NOW!

Some good questions to ask your loved ones:
• Do you have a will? If so, where is it/ who is the attorney?
• Who is in charge of the finances? Is there a financial advisor or accountant I should be aware of?

Granted, an unmarried person like me probably doesn't have quite the need for a will that others do. I have no kids, no house, no real estate ... just investments. BUT these investments (and even my car) do have a TOD (transfer on death) to an immediate family member (and even Erik on a few of them).

So, why the heck does this all matter? For we singletons, not much now. But what about my married friends, siblings or parents? You need to know about the wishes of your family, and even if you don't have reason to have a will, make a point to find out the expectations your siblings/parents might have of you in THEIR will (raise the kids, dogs, etc.).

Some of my friends have kiddos, but no stipulations regarding the kids ... no provisions made for the little ones. Yes, godparents have traditionally "raised" kids in the case parents were not around, but we godparents have NO legal rights. If you want the godparents to raise your kids, PUT IT IN A WILL. If you would like your parents or sibling to do so, PUT IT IN A WILL.

Mom and I were talking about it, and she's seen cases where parents made no provisions and a child was REMOVED from its extended family and put into foster care. Scary, but true!

Sorry about the soap box rant (and I KNOW we're in our 20s and it seems crazy to think about this stuff!), but having some sort of guidelines is a smart move.