No one is ever prepared for the loss of a loved one. No matter how ready you think you are, or how arranged you think everything is in the case of a death, nothing can measure up to the grief and distress that moment brings. And, in reality, the moment of grief and distress can last for months. The last thing that you want to worry about is legal documents, assets, finances, and getting caught up in Arizona probate court.

Pressure To React Immediately

Don’t put your house on the market. Don’t give away money to your children or charity. Don’t sell stocks or bonds. And don’t agree to move in with an adult child. Eventually, any of these steps may make perfect sense. But take a breather in the overwhelming weeks and months after a spouse dies. (Finance.Yahoo.com)

During this time of grief, grave mistakes can be easily made with regards to finances, assets, and personal property. It is not the time to make major decisions. No matter how much you want these distractions to keep your mind off of the current situation, and no matter how pressured you might feel to take care of these tasks swiftly, resist the urge.

Unfortunately, if all of your legal documents aren’t in order, if you do not have an Arizona living trust and an Arizona living will, there are many loopholes that insurance agencies, even the government can take advantage of. As you go through your grief, insurance agents will come to you with grand sales ideas of new life policies, the government will tie up your assets in probate court, and ambulance chasers will call day and night.

Do Only What Must Be Done

After the death of a loved one, there isn’t a lot that you should be doing. Have friends and family assist you in this time, and take advantage of their help. Do not make any financial or property decisions, do not sign any contracts, and do not agree to anything regarding your assets during this time. Let yourself heal, then with a clear mind you may jump into deciding what to do about everything else.

• Be Prepared by having all of your legal documents in order. Be sure to have your Social Security numbers and paperwork easily accessible. Have birth and marriage certificates, military discharge papers, company benefits booklets, car titles, powers of attorney, and current statements for bank, brokerage and retirement accounts in a filing cabinet where you can easily get to them.

• Understand Your Finances. If your partner took care of all of the finances in the house, be sure that you sit down together and go over the process together. So many times after the death of a loved one, partner’s then realize that they have no idea how the bills were paid, how much was paid, and what days to pay them.

• Seek Out Financial Help. Sit down with a certified financial planner as well as an Arizona estate lawyer. Create a “financial support team” where you can get everything in order. Be your own greatest advocate and make sure that you understand all aspects of your financial affairs.

This will be one of the toughest times in your life, and the last thing that you want to worry about is financial issues that are stressful and confusing. It’s imperative that you get everything in order before the worst occurs.

Need Help?

If you are not sure as to what legal document you currently have contact one of our professionals to help you with your estate planning. They will make sure you have all of your grounds covered and have the right legal documents that best suite your wants and needs.

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