It’s been a while since I’ve written, and I apologize for the absence. Life has been incredibly chaotic—something many of you can relate to. In the past year alone, I got married, helped my wife start a business, and unexpectedly lost my father. It’s been a whirlwind of stress, sadness, excitement and anxiety.
While I’m using my own situation as an example, I want to make clear that I’m a licensed funeral director—not a lawyer—and I strongly encourage consulting an attorney when making any legal decisions. Life is unpredictable. The question is: how will you prepare for it? Will you face it head-on, or leave loose ends for others to untangle after you’re gone?
My personal belief is that we should strive to be a blessing, not a burden, to our loved ones. One of the best ways to do that is through planning—getting everything in order, clearly organized, and in one place. Preplanning offers tremendous peace of mind and minimizes confusion for your family in a difficult time.
A critical first step in this process is creating a last will and testament. A will names the person legally responsible for your estate after death and outlines your wishes for distributing property, handling debts and other personal matters. Without a will—known as dying intestate—the state determines how your assets are divided.
A properly written will can also name guardians for minor children or dependents with special needs. Without this, the courts will decide who assumes that role. Additionally, a will may reduce the estate’s tax burden through strategic asset distribution and available exemptions.
Having a will also helps streamline the probate process by minimizing disputes and speeding up asset transfers. In short, it provides peace of mind for both you and your loved ones, ensuring that your wishes are honored and that your family isn’t left in chaos.
Another increasingly important addition to wills is the designation of a funeral agent—someone with legal authority to carry out your funeral wishes. I’ll explore this in more detail in a future column.
Andrew B. Hoffman is a funeral director at Jeffries and Keates and Keates-Plum Funeral Homes. He is a twenty-two year veteran of the funeral industry.
