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My electrical engineering husband and our oldest child, who is not quite 4, are huge fans for all things related to space.  Included in that fascination is the Star Trek series as well as the recent launch by SpaceX.  To my surprise, their interest intersected with my career focus.  SpaceX, the first private company to deliver supplies to the International Space Station also carried the cremains of 300 people into space .  Included were those of James Doohan, who played Scotty in the original series. Sound appealing?  If so, make sure you take the proper steps to ensure your final wishes are carried out.  In Wisconsin that involves completing the form: Authorization for Final Disposition , which appoints a person as well as a back up to make your burial arrangements.  If that should include a space flight, be certain to complete the form.

Image credit:  www.sxc.hu - free image When people hear I'm a lawyer they often make some comment about my hourly rate.  Sure, I have an hourly billable rate for my work related to probates, but not for drafting estate planning documents.  Why not?  Because I don't want clients looking at the clock, thinking "lord, she sure can talk a lot...this is costing a fortune!"  Instead I need  them to be relaxed and talkative.  Over the course of a conversation little nuggets about their family, finances, and health will come out.  And some of those nuggets have an impact on what the documents I draft will say.  For example: my daughter.....well she really isn't my daughter, she is my niece who I took in when she was 3 years old; oh.....and there is the cabin in Minnesota that we own a half share of with my sister; the date of my divorce, well technically  we never finished the divorce, we just went our separate ways. All true statem...

Those who know me well know that I appreciate frugal approaches to life.  However, I have my limits and one is not using the free power of attorney for health care form provided by Wisconsin's Department of Health Services.  Why?  The form does not contain an explicit waiver of the federal law (HIPAA) that makes one's health information private.  What good is a form that says my husband can make decisions for me, but does not give him legal authority to access health information?  Instead, I use the model forms in Eckhardt's Workbook for Estate Planners in Wisconsin.

Image credit:  www.sxc.hu - free image It's Memorial Day 2012 and I am taking the day off to spend with family, give thanks for those who defend our nation, and feed the goats at Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison.  Enjoy your holiday, and I'll be back tomorrow with another post about illness, death and taxes for the middle class.

This week I read an article out of Boston .  The message was clear, people are living longer and the need for a plan about how to care for elders is increasing.  Especially when the resources are at risk of running out.  The information presented was everything I'd seen before: have aging parents put a will and powers of attorney together; considering long-term care insurance;  determine if the children can and are willing to fund part of the older generations expenses; selling mom's home will cause fights between siblings; and don't wait until a crisis hits to start discussing options. All of this is true, but what we really need is an article that motivates people 70 and older to take action.  Why?  Because no matter how informed a 65 year old is about the importance of his/her parents doing these things, nothing will happen until the parent acts.  One exception, after crisis arrives, the children can go to court to seek guardianship. R...

Image credit: www.sxc.hu - free image Nursing homes, the topic is sure to get one's attention.  Especially for someone who is aging and loosing their independence.  So many people say "I never want to go to one", yet it is a primary way our country cares for our sickest members. As my father neared the end of his life he spent one month in a nursing home, even though he always voiced his dislike of such facilities.  Selection was not much of an issue; he was being released from a hospital and the first bed available was what we took so that he could stay relatively close to my mom.  The one he went to, Capitol Lakes, in Downtown Madison was described by many as wonderful.  And it did a decent job on meeting his needs. However, my jaw dropped open this past weekend while reading an article in the Wisconsin State Journal about nursing facilities with citations for improper care .  Capitol Lakes was at the top of the list because a 95 year old women r...

Image credit:  www.sxc.hu - free image Dying does not put an end to identify theft, it may even accelerate it!  According to this article the Social Security Administration sells its list of deceased Social Security card holders .  From which the deceased's SSN can be posted on-line, and be stolen.  Thieve claim the deceased on his/her tax return, and take the deceased's tax return if it was available. Prevention occurs when loved ones monitor a deceased person's credit report, which requires a death certificate and proof of relationship.  Seriously!  I loose a family member and now I have to monitor their credit until I die!  Honestly, the government needs to take steps to prevent SSNs from being posted on the internet. Agree with me?  If yes, I urge you to contact your Representative and or Senator in the US Congress .  Simple changes would spare families continued loss, and bring an end to some criminal pursuits.