/Adjusted%202021%20Originals/DRCS%20Logo%20BrandMark%20Positive%20w%20Square%20BG%20Left%20Aligned%20PNG-min.png?width=95&height=99&name=DRCS%20Logo%20BrandMark%20Positive%20w%20Square%20BG%20Left%20Aligned%20PNG-min.png "DR Care Solutions | Your Care, Your Support, Your Way | Aged Care & Disability Care Consulting Services")
In the lead up to Dying To Know Day on 8 August 2023, I'm beating my drum on the importance of being prepared.
© Danielle Robertson Consulting Pty Ltd t/as DR Care Solutions
Preparation brings peace of mind to you and your loved ones. All too often I witness the chaos and expense of not being prepared! So this Dying To Know Day[1]...
Let me test you
Do you know where your title deeds are? If you don’t own property, where’s your lease agreement?
If you suddenly need to move into residential aged care, you may need to sell your property or consider equity release to pay for residential care. If you rent, you will need to provide your lease agreement details to seek government-subsidised residential care.
If you die suddenly, the executor of your estate will need all your key personal documents.
Not having key documents to hand can cause substantial stress to loved ones, and often additional expense.
Be ready – use the DR Care Solutions Life Ready RegisterTM
To help you, we have created the DR Care Solutions Life Ready RegisterTM. It is available as a downloadable document at the end of this blog.
Use the Register to list your key personal documents, where they are stored, and who has a copy.
When it comes to key personal documents, last week I encouraged you to tick off the big five items[2]. To recap, it is recommended[3] that you have in place:
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An Enduring Power of Attorney
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An Enduring Guardianship
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An Advanced Care Plan
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A Will
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A Binding Death Nomination Form.
If you haven’t yet acted on this list, make an appointment today to see your solicitor.
If you don’t have a solicitor, we can refer you to a local estate planner or you can use the local solicitor directories provided by your State or Territory Law Society. Links to these directories can be found at the end of this blog.
Store your Register and let key people know its location
Once you have these documents listed in your DR Care Solutions Life Ready RegisterÔ, the next step is to store the Register in a safe place and tell your loved ones, in particular your Enduring Power of Attorney and Executor, how to access it.
We suggest paper copies be locked in fireproof filing cabinets or a safety deposit box; and if you’re storing your DR Care Solutions Life Ready RegisterTM online, use password protection and file encryption. Remember, tell your Power of Attorney and Executor where it is.
Each year around your birthday review your DR Care Solutions Life Ready RegisterTM to ensure it’s up to date. Remember to update the version of it and include the date of review. Send a note to your Power of Attorney and Executor explaining that it’s been updated and how to access it.
Need a local solicitor?
Browse our DR Care Solutions Partners: Strategic Partners > Select "Legal"
For New South Wales residents refer to: The Directory of Solicitors of the Law Society of NSW
For Victorians: The Directory of Solicitors of the Law Institute of Victoria
For Queenslanders: The Directory of Solicitors of the Queensland Law Society
For ACT residents: The Directory of Solicitors of the ACT Law Society
For South Australians: The Directory of Solicitors of the Law Society of South Australia
For West Australians: The Directory of Solicitors of the Law Society of Western Australia
For Tasmanians: The Directory of Solicitors of the Law Society of Tasmania
For NT residents: The Listing of Law Firms of the Law Society of the Northern Territory
DR Care Solutions - Life Planning Resources
For your convenience, we offer the following free resources available by submitting the forms below:
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End-Of-Life Planning Checklist: Go through a list of tasks to prepare for an end of life.
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Life Ready Register™: Record all your important information in the one place.
Please note: The information in this blog is not to be treated as legal advice. Please speak with your solicitor for legal advice.
Need help caring for a loved one? Please feel free to call me, Danielle Robertson, at any time for an initial discussion on how to set up the right care, support and assistance at the right time and in the right place.
Resources
[1] Dying To Know Day
[2] DR Care Solutions: Be Prepared For Your Dying Day - Tick Off The Top Five
[3] Dying To Know Day Step 1
