Amy on Organizing Records

A friend of mine attended a family holiday gathering a few years ago. John particularly wanted to see his cousin Mary who had cancer and was not expected to live more than a few months. Mary spoke frankly of her illness and life expectancy. She asked John if he would help her daughter Sally “when the time came.” John assured Mary that he would.

The time did come. Sally called John to share the sad news. But there was more. Mary had named Sally and John co-executors! During the process of settling Mary’s affairs, John came to understand that Mary had added him as co-executor as a check on Sally lest she be unduly influenced by her husband.

There is a lesson in this story. By the way, all my stories do come with lessons. If someone asks you to serve as an executor or to “help” settle their affairs, start asking questions now. If you ask someone to serve as your executor, prepare your executor to do the job.

Think over your conversations during the holidays. Is there someone you need to ask questions now?