E183 Did Her Estate Plan Work? A Solo Ager Example

<div class="avia_textblock"> <p>Let’s take a look at a real world example of whether a Solo Ager’s estate plan worked towards the end of her life.</p> <h2>Ms.H’s Plan: DIY Will + Professional Executor</h2> <h3>Background</h3> <p>Ms. H is a solo ager (unmarried, no kids, over 60 years old) who’s been estranged from her closest relatives (siblings and nieces and nephews) for decades.</p> <p>She made a <a href= "https://anthonyspark.com/e170-how-to-name-a-professional-executor-in-your-diy-will/">do-it-yourself will</a> leaving everything to charity. Thankfully, she hired a lawyer to supervise her will signing.</p> <p>Ms. H named me her <a href= "https://anthonyspark.com/professional-executor/">professional executor</a> in her will, and over the past 10 years her wishes have remained largely the same.</p> <h3>Recently</h3> <p>Sadly, age has caught up with Ms. H, and she was recently hospitalized for <a href= "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-neglect" target="_blank" rel= "noopener noreferrer">lack of self-care</a>. Her doctors agree they cannot discharge her to live alone anymore, so we’re making arrangements for Ms. H to move into assisted living.</p> <p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-8556 lazyloaded" src= "https://anthonyspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/bigstock-Take-care-of-yourself-reminder-191450749-1-300x300.jpg" alt="take care of yourself" width="300" height="300" data-ll-status="loaded" /></p> <p>She’s understandably anxious about all this, and even contacted her long-estranged niece and asked her to visit.</p> <h2>What Went <em>Right</em> with Her Plan?</h2> <p>Ms. H avoided a few problems by naming me her professional executor.</p> <p>First, she won’t have to deal with any “<a href= "https://anthonyspark.com/e161-court-appointed-strangers/">court-appointed strangers</a>,” such as a guardian. Instead, she can turn to me, someone she’s chosen and has a relationship with.</p> <p>Second, she felt comfortable reaching out to estranged family, without fear they’d try to sneak into her inherita