When people think of estate planning, they are often focused on determining heirs, financial plans, custodial wishes, and their Last Will and Testament. Sometimes, people assume their loved ones will know their final burial wishes. Including a Letter of Final Wishes (LFW) into your estate plan is the only way to ensure that your final wishes are fulfilled. You may be thinking, “Why do I need an LFW? My family knows me, so they will make the best decisions for me.” Yes, they may love you exponentially, but they may not always agree on the best decisions. Here’s a brief look at a true story to consider…
Without a letter of final wishes
The family of iconic American radio personality Casey Kasem (1932-2014), had one of the most publicized family feuds over the final resting place of his deceased body. A tumultuous relationship existed between his wife of 30 years and his children from a previous marriage. When he died, the argument continued regarding his final resting place. His wife wanted to bury him in Norway where she wanted to relocate. His children insisted that he should be buried in California. Casey’s children claimed that he had stated, verbally, that he wanted to be buried in California. Since there was no written proof, and the courts ruled in his wife’s favor. Casey Kasem is buried in Oslo, Norway.
Specifics
A Letter of Final Wishes is a written formal communication between you and your family expressing your final burial or funeral wishes. First of all, the LFW is separate from your Last Will and Testament, and you can include a significant amount of detailed information regarding your final wishes.
Your LFW can provide important details if you desire a specific kind of service. Retired or active military service members can request several services from Veterans Affairs. If you are a member of a fraternal organization, there may be specific ceremonies that you would like performed. You can also include an outline of your future obituary in your LFW, a playlist of songs to play during your services, a life celebration, or a somber reflective service. Because your Letter of Final Wishes can contain a plethora of personal details, you can help your survivors immensely. Information that you include may refer to online accounts, user IDs, passwords, and even reasoning behind your estate planning decisions. The LFW can also include detailed information about your financial affairs, investments, account numbers, and tax returns. Also important are your contacts, such as your attorney, banker, or insurance agent.
Clarity
An estate planning legal professional can help you navigate all of the details to prepare your Letter of Final Wishes (LFW). By working with a legal professional, together, you can craft a detailed outline to help you write the perfect LFW. This is your personal Letter of Final Wishes. Certainly, a portion of this letter should come from you, and you should write it in your voice. It can be in your handwriting. Finally, if the thought of writing a letter to your loved ones makes you nervous, a professional in the estate planning field can provide you the confidence and encouragement to communicate your final wishes.
