Unwanted Legacies
Your children are grief stricken at your loss. Your departure from this world could have been imminent or untimely. Your loved ones must carry on without you. During this grievous time, they are slammed with a legacy that can be more devastating than your passing.
Listed below are some unwanted legacies that should not never be left behind.
Debt: Many of our loved ones keep their financial problems to themselves never sharing the debt that they may be in. There may be many reasons. It might be they grew up in an era where this type of business was never discussed with their children. Older generation were closed lipped about certain areas in their lives. It could be embarrassing that they found themselves in a money crisis due to bad investments; or the inability to deal with money matters properly. Too often, families are overwhelmed with their loved one’s financial burdens.
Secrets: Family discovers that their loved ones lived secret lives. They may have another family somewhere else. Or a sibling or some other type of long-lost family member exists. There may be other secrets that when revealed may not leave a positive legacy behind.
No funeral arrangements: In this case, there is no life insurance policy to offset the cost of a funeral. The loved ones must find resources to provide a decent burial.
No will. Often family members squabble because the desired wishes of their loved ones have not been expressed. This pertains to financial and medical. Without a living will, family members do not know how to deal with matters concerning life support or other medical issues. A lack of a standard will cause discord among family members on how valuables should be distributed.
These are only a few unwanted legacies left behind, there may be many others that exist. There are some simple solutions for some, where others may need more pondering.
As far as debts, the solution goes both ways. Children should get involved with their parent’s finances, not to be noisy or judgmental, but to assist when needed or too become aware, so they are not sucker punched, during a time of grief. However, the matriarchs and patriarchs should perform legal and moral means not to leave their children in a money mess.
Secrets may not be avoided. If all possible families should talk and address issues. If secrets do surface, remember your parents were young and made the same types of mistakes, that you have made or will make. If all possible, try not to be too judgmental, your parents were human.
Make sure your parents have a life insurance policy, if not purchase one for them. A few dollars a month for a premium is better than thousands of dollars, at one time. During this time assist them in getting the various types of wills, necessary. Know your parents’ wishes.
To the matriarchs and patriarchs, it is your responsibility to get your affairs in order. And for the younger generations who do not like to talk about death, dying and or surviving without your loved ones, have conversations with your parents, get to know them as much as possible while they are alive and not after they are gone.
That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. Psalm 78:6 (KJV)