DO OR DIE
In light of the up-coming vacation, it got us to thinking...
We haven't up-dated a Will since we left the States. Now for those of you unfamiliar with Wills, jurisdictions and such - our Will is invalid. It wouldn't be upheld by any court in Canada. And funny fact: the LAST time we made a Will (which was actually our first) was when we went on our last vacation 3 years ago.
So as I was saying, in light of our up-coming vacation, we figured it was high time to get that Will re-done, signed, sealed and put in a firebox or something. For those of you that think lawyers are a waste of money - we conquer. In fact, there is nothing a lawyer can do for you that you can't do for yourself if you buy the proper Will kit. It also helps that back in the day, I used to work for a lawyer and made out I dunno how many Last Will and Testaments. A lot. I also helped go after people who were in arrears from their student loans. You'd be shocked of all the lame-ass excuses I got from people who didn't think they should re-pay them (people... just pay them back will ya?).
Today I went on the quest to find the proper documents I needed to get my Will on. I tried two registry offices to no avail. Seems everyone in the Northwest side of Calgary is looking to take care of their affairs. Can't blame em. I could have registered my own trademark though (if I only had one). I need one of those stupid catch phrases like Paris Hilton's "that's hot" or Donald's "you're fired". Yes ingenious of them both. Finally, I find a place that has them, and I notice that they also offer the Power of Attorney document, with the bonus of $10.00 off if I buy the Will kit at the same time! LOL - seems like a funny offer but hey, ten bucks is ten bucks.
It gets me thinking of how many people won't do a Will. And usually the answer is because if they make a Will, that means they might die. How illogical is that? People paper doesn't determine whether you live or die. Jumping off a building, swimming with your toaster - those do. I think maybe it's just the fear of untimely demise. If you have your shit together, the cosmic forces might say, "Eh you've had a good run". I don't buy into that. I mean I have three kids, and if I go without the proper documentation, Lord only knows what happens to them custody-wise. Plus, I don't want them fighting over all my jewelry. And you know, you have to delegate trust funds. Jarrett's grandpa wasn't so thought-out. He put fifteen grand in a coffee can on the top of his fridge. Apparently he was saving up to buy a new pick-up truck. Honestly, $15G in a can of Folgers. My great grandmother hid her money in magazines. Like between the pages. For years she insisted that the staff in the nursing home was stealing from her. After she died, and they started to burn all the useless stuff she accumulated (she was 101 years old), they dropped a magazine and two fifties and a ten fell out on the ground. They looked at each other and went through all the books and magazines.... .and found something like $7,000.00 - plus whatever they just burned in a barrel. WHOOPS!!!
Really, it's amazing all the work you have to put in just to pass on. All the little details, in which Jarrett and I look at each other and think "I dunno". He has one request. He wants his infamous catch phrase on his headstone. I told him it was highly inappropriate to have the words "This is bullshit" on his grave marker. He thought it would be funny to the passersby and really, summed up his life in three words. You'd think "beloved husband and father" would be more reasonable. Mine should read "come back later - I'm busy".
So here it is... how many of you still haven't gotten your Will done? And if not, why haven't you? I'm interested. Let's call it a sociological study.
10 comments:
We got our will done a couple of years ago. It's a great feeling to know that every last detail is taken care of so, if God forbid both the hubby and I sleep with our toasters, the kids won't have to worry.
I'm sure it's tough to face that whole morbid death thing, but everyone should get their stuff in order, just in case. And people need to know that things just don't automatically go to the kids.
Knowledge is power.
I have to get a will together. We always talk about it but it is something liek many, many other people, we have never gotten to.
Hi, I'm linking through from "Just Eat Your Cupcake". The will question is a small bone of contention in our household. We have appointed my sister to be guardian of our kids of we both die, but we haven't done a will. My husband says, "well, everything we have would go to the kids for their support, so what more is there to say?" Uh...wouldn't we have to iron out how my sister would get some of that money until the kids were adults? I think he just doesn't want to deal with it.
Nope, haven't done it. I've meant to a few times, but just never got it done.
It is funny what older people have done with their stuff. When we were going through my grandmother's house, we found a coffee can with a bunch of trash in it, including a wad of aluminum foil. One of my uncles threw it out. My grandmother picked it out of the trash can and sorted through it. Um, good thing. Wrapped up in the aluminum foil was a diamond ring. It's in a safe deposit box now.
And there was $$ in quite a few books. That was my son's job - flip through all the books and magazines to make sure we weren't throwing out what could buy us a new car. lol
My grandmother keeps her cash in the freezer. Cold, hard cash indeed.
We have a will, but we had it done when we had just one child. We now have 3, so I think it's not valid. Good reminder to do something about it.
We did one right before our son was born. It just makes sense. I want control over where my son will be when we aren't around and I want to name control of the money that will be left to him.
We did ours shortly after Sean was born because we did a 4 hour drive 4 times a weekend every other weekend and we never knew when an idiot would hit us. We used vague enough wording that we don't need to update when this baby's born. (things like "jewelry will be split evenly among the kids")
No will. I'm a bad, bad adult. But I support your hubby's desire to have his pet phrase on his grave marker. It seems to sum things up very nicely at that point. LOL
We have ours together - the first time we both left the country at the same time was enough. Plus when we heard my bil still had a will that said the kids go to my mil we KNEW we had to put a will together to insure that our children won't be put through that kind of torture. I think it is quite surprising to people how much the govt will take from you if you don't tell them who you want to have it. Here's a hint - don't die before you get your tax return.
You're going on another vacation?? Dayum!
I ain't made no Will but I really do need to. I ain't quit smoking so you know, there's one good reason to draw one up now.
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