LETTERS OF INSTRUCTION Putting Your Affairs in Order Is Just the First Step
A comprehensive estate plan will include a last will and testament, sometimes a trust, and often other recommended documents that plan for incapacity, such as powers of attorney, health care proxies, and living wills. Among other benefits, these documents allow people to control how their assets will be distributed or managed after they’re gone. But there are other pieces of advice and information people want to provide to those who will be managing their affairs or raising their young children in the event that something happens to them. That’s where a letter of instruction comes into play.
A letter of instruction is a letter intended to help those who will be managing your affairs after you die or become disabled. It covers all of the small but important details that are not a part of your will that your designated people will need to know. They’re help for communicating the following:
• Information regarding social media and online accounts, including usernames and passwords and how you want those accounts maintained or closed Letters of instruction are useful for communicating anything you think would help make things easier for those taking over, and they ensure things happen in the way you would’ve wanted. This includes explanations of decisions in your estate plan in order to clarify or mitigate hurt feelings, how your bills are paid, where important documents are located, and who should be notified about your death. These letters should be updated periodically as things change. If you would like to create a letter of instruction or need help with other parts of your estate plan, the experts at Merlino & Gonzalez can help. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
• Priorities to trustees of minor beneficiaries or managing money
• Health and education information and goals to guardians of minor children to ease the transition • Information for a special needs trustee regarding the beneficiary’s disability, daily routines, medications, favorite activities, likes, and dislikes, among other things
• Information on a pet’s likes and dislikes for the person entrusted with its care
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FESTIVE APPLE CIDER MICHELE’S RECIPE CORNER
If you’re cutting back on calories, skip the eggnog and buttered rum this year and fill up your mug with this delicious mulled cider!
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lemon • 1 gallon pure apple cider • 1 large orange, thinly sliced crosswise • 2 tsp whole cloves
• 2 tsp allspice berries • 1 inch fresh ginger, thinly sliced • 2 tbsp honey • 3 cinnamon sticks
DIRECTIONS
1. Using a paring knife, shave the lemon peel off in curls. Reserve the curls and save the lemon for use in a different recipe. 2. In a large slow cooker, combine the lemon peel with all other ingredients. Cook on low for 3–4 hours. 3. If desired, use a sieve to strain the spices. Serve and enjoy!
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