End of Life Financial Planning Questions

1. What are the West Virginia burial requirements for burying someone on my own?

   The law in West Virginia, like the law in most states, does allow you to act completely on your own in handling these matters. And there is no set time limit on burying a body without embalming it, first. Embalming is generally only required if a body will be transported out of state or is infected with...
   1 Expert Answer

2. Can my aunt take all my dad's stuff?

   It sounds as if your aunt acted so quickly that she alarmed a few people, including you. But perhaps she was just trying to be helpful, and to stay busy during this stressful time. Whether it was rude or premature or even mean-spirited doesn’t matter now. The deed has been done.
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

3. What must house deeds say to prevent probate after the death of a spouse?

   There are a few different ways you and your spouse may jointly own the house—and all of them will allow you to avoid probate. The exact phrasing required depends on the state in which you live.
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4. Is a separated wife still responsible for funeral?

   This question sounds simple, but it raises a number of issues that may complicate its answer.
   1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

5. Can we get the life insurance to pay up anyway?

   Whether a life insurance policy covers death by suicide depends on the terms of the policy. If the policy does not refer to suicide, you should be able to collect. However, if the policy provides that no payment will be made if the insured died by suicide, that probably ends things...
   1 Expert Answer, 3 Community Answers

6. Is it necessary to legally transfer ownership of a car after the owner dies?

   There could indeed be a messy liability issue if the car is involved in an accident or other mishap.
   1 Expert Answer, 9 Community Answers

7. How old must a child be to get money at a parent's death?

   The answer depends on where the money came from, how it was left to him -- and where he lives.
   1 Expert Answer

8. How do we preserve my deceased father's estate when my mother remarries?

   It depends on what your parents' estate plan says about who controls the property that your father left behind. If he left it all to your mother, then what she does with it is her business, and not yours. And if you are your mother's financial agent, acting under a power of attorney that she signed,...
   1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

9. In Ontario, what happens if a spouse dies without will?

   What happens to the property the spouse owned at death depends upon who is left surviving. The property is then distributed according to a specific hierarchy set out in a law called the Succession Law Reform Act.
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10. Do I still have financial power of attorney after the death of my mother?

    Your power in the power of attorney ended when your mother died. And banks have slightly different policies about who they will allow to get access to a deceased person's account. If the bank has no separate authority to give you access -- for example, your name with on the account as a joint owned or...
    1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

11. Can Medicaid take my property when I pass away?

    If someone owns a home but Medicaid (called Medi-Cal in California) pays for that homeowner's long-term care -- in a nursing facility, assisted living facility, or through a community-based program -- after the person reaches age 55, then Medicaid has a right to be repaid that money out of the value...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

12. Where can I get free legal help with estate planning?

    There is some free good help for you, but as with most things, you usually get what you pay for. Your best bet for a free power of attorney for health care is the local hospital, preferably the one in which your mother might be hospitalized if needed...
    1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

13. Can you provide me with a list of "end of life" questions to address with my family?

    How wise you are to plan ahead for these life and death matters. And your question prompted us at Caring.com to get to work on fashioning this very thing. So I thank you -- and many other future users will thank you, too. And sorry to toot our own horn, but in the meantime, you can get a good jumpstart from several of the articles already on the site...
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14. What if a will isn't executed properly?

    What happens if a will is not carried out in the right way by executors?

15. Does a spouse have final say over remains?

    My husband does not care where he is buried when he dies. He doesn't even care if he is buried or cremated. However, if he died tomorrow, his mother would be very upset if I had him cremated, although for us it is the best option, as we are not very well off and he has no insurance other than the standard life insurance through his work...

16. Does his heart attack affect my DIC benefits?

    I am the Widow of an Retired Army Vet. with 21 years served, he was discharged with 20% disability of "Hypertention", just recently died of a "Heart-Attack", also on Death certificate is marked "did tobacco use contribute to death? marked Yes. Am I gonna be able to get DIC benefits...

17. My sisters had my mom take out a reverse morgage on her home without my knowledge. What can I do?

    i HAVE 5 younger sisters i am the oldest and only boy my sisters talked my mom into getting a reverse morgage on her home that was paid for without my knowlege for 100,000 dollars the house was worth 50,000 they dont want the bank to know my mom is dead so that they can stay in the for nothing as long as possible...

18. My aunt died intestate in another state, California. I am...

    My aunt died intestate in another state, California. I am due to inherit a small sum. Do I need to get my own lawyer to monitor the correctness of the procedures?