My name is Kathy Lane and I am one of the founders of DieSmart. I am also a mother, wife, grandmother and, until my mother died last year at the age of 95, a caretaker. And I thought I was retired.
My partner and I are not attorneys; not doctors; not grief counselors. We are people who have started and managed businesses, raised families and nurtured friends. We became caretakers for our aging parents, and then acted as executors of their estate.
We found it hard to believe that educated people like ourselves did not understand the paperwork or the legal and financial aspects of dying. We realized that no one teaches someone how to die smart in school. Or explain why a lack of knowing or doing means someone pays later.
We discovered that dying is not just an emotional event in life, but a major financial one as well. An event where “dying dumb” can cost 4 to 8% of your net worth and, if long term care is involved, perhaps all of it.
An interview with the author Kathy Lane: Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
State Laws and how they affect you: www.diesmart.com
November 29, 2011: Social Security numbers – will online access be cut off? — Last week, Representative Sam Johnson of Texas introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that, if passed, will limit access to Social Security numbers available online. The act, entitled ...
November 12, 2011: Everyone needs a will. Do you have one? — It is critically important for everyone to have a will. If you don't have one, your wishes may not be carried out. Why? First of all, every state has laws covering what is called "dying intestate ...
November 8, 2011: Twitter – When do the Tweets stop? — If a Twitter user dies, here are the steps you must take to remove his or her account or to save a backup of their public Tweets. Contact Twitter at privacy@twitter.com or by mail or fax at: Twitter ...
November 3, 2011: Yahoo – What happens to a deceased’s online account? — Any free Yahoo account will automatically be cancelled after it has been inactive for 90 days. Premium services, however, will continue to be charged until Yahoo has been officially notified of the ...
