Hi Nikki, your story is so tragic...I'm so sorry. You're right about not waiting. I know we always "wait till tomorrow" and unfortunately you're never guaranteed a tomorrow. Even though it's too late for us here that have lost a spouse, now we really need to consider our family. I'm taking measures now to ensure that my daughter doesn't have to deal with not havering things in place when it's my time. Thanks for the reminder and again, my heart goes out to you.
Love to you
Darcie

Truly, I am sorry to hear the details of your tragic loss. It is so soon after, you most likely are still in shock. So don't stress about it now. You've got time.

I believe all states have a procedure called "intestacy" which is essentially a probate of an estate without a will. Spouses and kids are generally protected. Your state may even allow something as simple as filing the death certificate and filling out a form to transfer titles (our state does for most things when it goes to the spouse). So talk to someone who has been through a death of a spouse in your area if you know anyone and get a referral to a good honest attorney. And if you haven't yet, you might want to talk with a personal injury or workman's comp attorney about your husband's death. Logs aren't supposed to just roll off trucks and you need to find out what might be done on that. Things happen, and that is why most companies have liability insurance. Again, deal with these things as your able. You are very early in this grief process.

Doing a will forces us to look death right smack in the face - and most younger people don't want to do that (neither do us seasoned ones). So its not at all unusual that you don't have wills. Although my wife and I talked and joked about it many times through the years, the saying "the cobbler's children have no shoes" was true in my case. I put off doing our estate work until just a few years ago. Glad I did it now. And now I'm procrastinating getting Juanita off the house title and updating my will and some other things. So even the cobbler has no shoes. But I am reminded how much easier it is on those we leave behind if we just take care of these things when we can. God blessings upon you. ~ Scott

My heart goes out to you. My husband died 12/30/2014. Just 9 days after his 39th birthday, in a horrific wood cutting accident. I was with him. We did not have wills either, but luckily, most things from the legal standpoint have went smoothly. We had been together for nearly 23 years, and our 19th wedding anniversary was June 7th of this year.

I have since had a will prepared, and set up all of our possessions and accounts in trust for our kids. My funeral is planned and paid for, and I have been trying to get things taken care of to the point that my kids will not have any added stress when I join their dad.

I am in the same situation. My husband was 48 and I'm 40. He didn't think wills were necessary either. The paperwork has been overwhelming. He also has his own business so there's a lot of different ends to deal with.

After a month we are just at the beginning of me becoming the administrator. In 6-8 weeks I will be able to sell some stuff for the estate. This is going to be a long complicated journey.

My husband also died without a will at the age of 41. Fortunately, we held all of our assets as tenants by the entirety with right of survivorship, which meant I did not have to go through probate at all. Everything just passed automatically into my name. Wills are a good idea but as Scott said, no one, including attorneys (both my husband and I) wants to think about it.

Hugs,
Val

Like Val ALL of our Estate was in joint tenancy with our daughter named on everything as a joint tenant with right of survivorship.

I did this when we were quite young and our oldest daughter was then a adolescent.

She is now an adult, she is clear headed, unselfish and fair. I have a will in place that specifies who will get what after I die. Naming her as the executrix of my Estate.

My job offers a huge Life Insurance Policy naming her as beneficiary and as long as I continue to work and I die while working she'll have a lot of money to worry about!!!! Got to give her something to do after I'm gone!!!!!

Roz

My husband and I never bothered with wills because we have no assets...but what I do have is guardianship of my adult son who is autistic, and maybe I should take your advice and do up a will to make sure he goes to a good place when I'm gone...and I'm so sorry for your loss...

Don and I both have wills. We were such planners for the future. My problem was our plans were in vain. Sharon

Thank you for your input Darcie, Scott, Shaneslove, WifeofJoe, Val, Roz, Wendimac, Sharon and GLE33. This is the most compassionate group. Unfortunately theres many variables in my case. He has 2 children from two previous marriages but I have legal custody of his 9 yr old daughter. His Dad passed in 2007 and left eveything in his WILL to my husband but my husband failed to put everything in his own name, Its still in his Dads name, so have to reopen his Dads estate, blah, blah and then put the estate in probate and split stuff in 1/3 between me and his children. Going to see a lawyer Tuesday to help. Clerk of Court said this is one of the most difficult cases theyve had to deal with. And everytime I go something changes. They are having to get help from the Court Legal Team. I have to get bounded and have to buy out certain things from his older daughter so I may keep it on the property etc. Just pray it will all get settled and worked out soon. The stress of it all is unreal!!! Ive learned, after this is ALL taken care of im doing my WILL, getting Life Insurance and buying a plot, vault, coffin, head stone etc and have all necessary paper work put in a special place and tell my children (ages 21 and 19) where its at and give copies to my parents. I want to make the grieving process for my children and family as painless as possible considering what they will already be going thru when i pass.

Oh Nikki.....

Am so very very sorry for not only the loss of your love but what you are having to go through. I was fortunate that Larry was always very
intuitive on having everything in order & we did, so it made it so much easier.


If I may add my 2 cents.... I think a person should consider a living trust over a will..... something worth while to look into.

Please take care of yourself.
JoAnn

Wow. You do have a lot of hurdles. It's bad enough with the pain of your loss let alone having to deal w all of the legal work involved when things aren't in place. We were the prime examples of "we'll get to it tomorrow" and "if it could happen to you...it will". Sometimes I live in this rosy happy go lucky world with the attitude that nothing can go wrong...look at that pretty flower ...isn't that cloud gorgeous ...yada yada yada when I should have been inside doing grown up adult things. Sorry. I digress! I just get mad at myself for procrastinating. The point is, your post is very poignant. It's good advice to get your paperwork in order. Prayers to you that it all works out. It will take time. But it will happen. Pray and talk to your hubby to guide the hands of everyone involved. He's with you and helping more than you know.
Love to you
Darcie