Author's Insights

Home and Vehicle Information

There are many disease/illness/accident-related situations that render a person temporarily or permanently incapable of handling their own affairs.  This could be a sudden onset of symptoms or something that slowly progresses over time.

Over the years, I have worked with clients who have experienced cognitive issues related to traumatic brain injury from a fall or motor vehicle accident.  Others who have experienced a stroke or brain tumor.  While others progress along the pathway of dementia.  All of these individuals required someone to step up and either maintain or take over their affairs.  Some may recover to normal functioning while others may need assistance for the remainder of their lives if they survive.

The information listed under the Home and Vehicle section of the organizer will be an invaluable resource for your family/representative in the event you become incapacitated, or a death has occurred.

This section allows you to list all of your utility providers (gas, electric, water, cable, telephone, streaming services) along with the account numbers, name that appears on the account, and how you pay the accounts.  This will save an immense amount of time if these services need to be changed or stopped.  It is also a good time to review how the names on the utilities are listed so that it is easy for your spouse/partner/representative to make changes.

Knowing the vendors used for home repair and maintenance will also be extremely helpful for those who are assisting you.  List the company's used for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, lawn care, trash disposal, pest control, and general maintenance.

When it comes to vehicles (cars, boats, trailers, ATV's, motorcycles, etc), there is quite a bit of information that will be needed.  Are your vehicles owned, leased or financed?  Where are the titles located?  Who are they financed through or leased from?  Location of vehicles and keys?  Who provides maintenance and service?  Are they insured and through what company? 

The Home and Vehicle section of the organizer alone will save countless hours of searching through files, boxes, or safes for the needed information and long waits on the telephone to address accounts, for those seeing to your affairs or closing your estate. 

 

 

 

DISCLAIMER:  The author of When The Time Comes does not claim to be an expert in the fields of banking, investments, accounting, insurance, real estate or law. The author does not provide legal advice. The information contained in this binder comes from the personal experience of the author working with families and individuals over the past 40 years as a registered nurse, health advocate, POA, Guardian and through pastoral care. Readers are advised to contact experts in the respective fields listed in the binder for additional information.

© 2022 Carol Havens | All rights reserved
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