A Personal Note from the Creator of Life’s Stuff
Life’s Stuff is a system to collect and hold information about your home and finances, final wishes about personal property and pets and even your preferences in funeral arrangements. The objective is to have stored in one location all the information needed by others should you become incapacitated and unable to fulfill your current tasks.
Each chapter begins a Word to the Wise, a quote from scripture. The scripture included in each of these sections will remind you that you are performing an important function in the stewardship of your affairs when you work towards completing this task. You are not on this planet alone. You have a God that is very interested in your personal welfare.
The Progress Log after this introduction lists the information needed in each chapter. This is a reminder of your current chapter of work and the outstanding documents you are researching or waiting to arrive. As you progress through this workbook one chapter at a time, answer all the questions you are able to answer. Then make appointments with professionals or send for a copy of a document that contains critical information to learn the answers you don’t know. List these arrangements in the Progress Log and this will be your reminder of your progress. When you complete each step, check off the Progress Log entry as finished.
Actual documents such as living wills, real estate deeds, or stock certificates should be kept in a separated location from Life’s Stuff. The location of pass code to retrieve this information should be included in this workbook. Very helpful additions to this project are copies of the face sheets of document. Use a three-hole punch and include this face sheet in a three-ring binder and keep it with the workbook. Face sheets show how property is titled (how the names are listed) and the legal description, which is very important in an estate.
An initial visit to an attorney to do any type of estate planning will require much of the information that you will fill out in this book. Bring the book to your appointment and you will be pleased with how much time (and therefore money) you will save!
Finally, when you have completed all of the sections in the workbook, tell family members or a trusted friend about this workbook, what it contains and where it is located. Make a plan to keep the information updated. For instance, plan to update it at the first of each year, possibly by January 20, and again by June 20. You will be amazed at how much can change in a short period of time.
As you read the introduction, you will discover how I came to recognize the necessity for Life’s Stuff. I pray that the guidance in this workbook will prepare you to deal better with a crisis in your family.
Good Luck and God Bless,
Mary Snedden