J-Wild

Sunday, May 14, 2006

A Will?

So have you done your will yet? I am not talking about watching all of the Will Ferrell movies you can, I am talking about preparing a real, legal, and binding will.

Allison and I did ours a few weeks ago, and while it wasn't the most fun thing we have done on a Monday night but, it did force us to talk about things that are often times just avoided. We also prepared a living will for each of us that directs what kind of medical care we desired and to what extent we wanted medical intervention in order to keep us alive.

Of course the hardest thing we had to discuss was what would happen to Levi if both of us were gone. We didn't like to think about it let alone talk about it, but we do feel reassuring that a court won't end up deciding what would happen with Levi.

I think it's important for everyone, not just families to have will's. A will is about so much more than just who gets your stuff when you die. It's about how your wishes are honored after you are gone. So contact a lawyer (I wouldn't do a downloaded internet form) and get them to draw up a will for you. It's worth the money to be assured that your wishes will be honored after you are gone. A conversation with your spouse or best friend won't cut it. It's gotta be on a piece of paper that's been notorized, witnessed, and copied. If you don't those you leave behind will have to figure it out on their own.

Ask yourself this question. Does the closest person to you know if want to be buried or cremated? IF the answer is NO, then you better get on this soon.

By the way I want to be cremated and either spread at Camp Shiloh, worn in a locket around Allisons neck, or at a U2 concert during "Where the Streets Have no Name".


2 comments:

christine pinson said...

we have just been discussing this...i think it has primarily been on my mind because we are about to take a trip on the same plane, just matt and i, without jack. we have talked in the past about how this is something we need to do, and it hadn't even crossed my mind until about a week ago that we perhaps should do it before we leave on our trip.

you're right...it's so important...people need to know what your wishes are...i probably need to make sure that matt knows i will not be wearing him in a locket around my neck.

J-Wild said...

We had some friends who were in your same predicament. They called a lawyer who drew up a document specifying what they wanted to have happen to their kids if something happened to them on their trip. But that's all they did before they left.

A will really doesn't take very long to setup and you can always change it as circumstances change. I encourage you to take care of it before you leave, it only takes about four or five days.