A lot of people look at estate planning as the act of stating your wishes in writing regarding the way that you want your monetary assets to be transferred after you die. This is certainly at the core of the matter, but it is also important to think about the practical side.
If you use a will as your primary vehicle of asset transfer, you would name an executor in the document to serve as the administrator. Simply stating the way that you want the pie to be cut up is great.
But where are the ingredients located, and how is the executor going to find them?
Letter of Last Instruction
To make things much more simple for the executor, you could include a letter of last instruction among your estate planning documents. The best way to look at this is to keep it simple. There is someone that needs to complete these tasks on your behalf. You have to ask yourself what do they need to know to do the job.
Who, Where, and How
The above being stated, we can share some basic guidelines. First, if you want certain people to know that you have passed away, you can name them in the letter. This can be old friends, former coworkers, distant family members, and anyone else that comes to mind.
Of course, you should provide contact information if it is available to you. Remember, the objective is to give the executor the ability to efficiently administer the estate.
In addition to people that you have personal relationships with, the executor will have to contact professionals that have a need to know. These could include a Social Security representative, bankers, brokers, real estate people, insurance agents, your attorney, accountant, etc.
Since the executor will be inventorying all of your assets to prepare them for distribution to the heirs, you should provide account numbers and access information that is relevant. A lot of people conduct most of their business online, so usernames and passwords can enter the picture here.
Social Media Accounts
While we are on the subject of the digital universe, if you are like most people, you have social media accounts. You can inform your executor with regard to the way that you want them to be dealt with after your passing.
Facebook allows for the memorialization of accounts. If you go this route, your Facebook page would remain intact, but no one would be able to update it from the inside out. However, your existing friends would be able to make comments and post pictures.
Final Arrangements
You can address your final arrangements in your letter of last instructions. This would be a practical necessity if you have a prepaid burial plot and/or funeral arrangement. Even if you don’t, you can record your choices regarding the venue and the nature of the service, the way that you will be put to rest, and other details.
Schedule a Consultation Today!
We have provided some basic food for thought about the letter of last instruction in this brief blog post. If you would like to put a comprehensive plan in place that includes a detailed estate administration strategy, we would be more than glad to provide the necessary assistance.
Plus, if you have an existing estate plan that needs to be adjusted, or if it is not comprehensive in nature, we can gain an understanding of the situation and help you make adjustments.
You can set up an appointment at our Oklahoma City office if you reach out to us at 405-843-6100, and there is a contact form on this site you can use to send us a message. We also have a Tulsa location, and the number for that office is 918-615-2700.
Since founding Parman & Easterday in 1985, Larry has led over 1,000 free, community-service education programs and helped more than 10,000 Oklahoma families go from putting off their estate plan to getting it done. His goal for every client is the same: to become the person their family calls "the one who took care of everything."
Larry is the author of three books: The Straight Shooter's Guide to Estate Planning; Estate Planning Basics; and Guiding Those Left Behind in Oklahoma. He served as Oklahoma's Secretary of State and Secretary of Commerce, and his firm is the only member of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys in the state.
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