Cut Out the Chaos & Confusion

Grief and highly stressful situations can impact significantly on one’s ability to think clearly and make decisions, and can even result in temporary memory loss. In order to avoid additional stress when it comes to making decisions about funeral arrangements, it is best to make your wishes known while you are still here. Make sure you have everything in writing, so that your wishes are correctly interpreted by your family members.

But perhaps even more stressful than the funeral arrangements, is what follows next. The estate of a deceased person must be reported to the Master of the High Court within 14 days of the date of death. This comes at a time where one’s emotions are still very raw, and loved ones could be feeling very lost and confused as they come to terms with their loss and a new way of living.

There are a number of ways to cut out the chaos and confusion at such a vulnerable time. Some ideas to consider include:

• Gather the necessary documents for your estate in a safe place;
• Make notes for your loved ones of where to find different things, for example spare keys, important information, etc.;
• Write notes/letters to special people in your life; and
• Start de-cluttering and get as much in order as possible. There is so much that can be done in advance to give both you and your loved ones more clarity and peace of mind.

Desrae Coventry
www.estatefilepreparation.co.za