By
Susan M. Graham, Certified Elder Law Attorney, Senior Edge Legal, Boise, Idaho
Who will end up with your grandmother’s wedding ring and your great-grandfather’s pocket watch? When creating an estate plan, many fill out a list indicating who is to receive precious or sentimental possession after death.
Few take the time to provide a more lasting gift – words of wisdom on how to live life. Each of us have lessons to share.[1] Here are some examples.
• What are the three most important lessons you have learned in your life?
• How did you find work and a career you enjoyed?
• What would you say you know about living a happy and successful life that you didn’t know when you were age 20?
• What are your major values or principles that you live by daily.
• What lessons have you learned to stay healthy?
• What advice do you have to help people prepare for aging?
• What was the best day in your life and why?
• What was the worst day in your life and why?
We provide a form to all our clients and encourage them to complete it for their family. An abbreviated version of that form is at the end of this article.
My True Wealth and Wisdom
My life story
My values
My family relationships
Other personal relationships
My heritage
My ties to the community
My money and property
I want to share my life philosophy with you.
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(add lots more pages)
Dated: _________________________
________________________________
[1] “Before Passing Along Valuables, Passing Along Values”, by Robert Powell, The Wall Street Journal, December 10, 2012, page R5
