ColleenWatters
  • HOME
  • About
    • Mission and Philanthropy
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate
  • Trust Administration
  • Planning for your pet
  • Special Needs Planning
  • Contact
  • Blog

How will your life be Celebrated and Honored?

9/23/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
As an Estate Planning Lawyer I am in contact with people who have lost a loved one and I encourage my clients to plan ahead as much as possible. 

One of the greatest gifts my mother gave us was to plan ahead for her end-of-life arrangements.  When I meet with people regarding their estate plan I recommend they consider pre-planning their end-of –life arrangements as well.  


The information below is from the Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel.  For more information visit their website at HeritageOakseMemorialChapel.com

5 Steps Concerning Your End-of-Life Planning

Do realize that when you make decisions in advance regarding your end-of-life arrangements, you are telling your family that you care about them.  Making arrangements for a loved one after they have passed away is stressful!  You can remove this stress for them by taking care of your arrangements in advance. You will also have peace of mind knowing that everything is in order and you have your wishes in writing.

Here are some steps that will guide you in this process:

·        Decide What You Want.  What do you to have happen once you pass away?  Many people are concerned about the cost.  If money was not an issue, what would you like to see happen? Many people who come to Heritage Oaks are surprised at how little it will cost to do what they want. We can assist you with putting a plan into place so the money will be set aside in advance to cover the cost of your wishes.

 

·         Keep in mind that services are for the living, not the deceased.  The customary visitation, funeral or memorial celebration of life are what many family members need to bring closure after their loved one dies.  Showing you care includes providing them with a formal opportunity to say goodbye and honor you together with your family and friends.  It is normal for people to grieve the loss of a loved one, and this is an important first step in that grieving process.

 

·         Decide where your final resting place will be. Local communities in Sacramento and Placer Counties have municipal cemeteries that provide a lower rate on burial plots and niches to their residents.  These cemeteries are very well maintained and the cost is 40% to 60% less than commercial cemeteries.  Plus, if you are a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces with an honorable discharge, you’ll appreciate knowing that you are entitled to a free burial plot or cremation niche at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. We will assist your family with making the arrangements at the National Cemetery at no charge to them.

 

·        Don’t procrastinate!  Putting things off does not bring peace of mind. Once this is done, you can relax!  A few minutes now will save your loved ones a lot of unnecessary pain.

 

·        Write down your plan. 

  We can help you get started by providing you with a complimentary Personal Memorial Planner that will guide you through organizing the important information your family will need.  We will also provide Estate Planning Tools including an Advanced Directive.

 We encourage you to request our free “Personal Memorial Planner” which will not only help answer your questions, but also guide through the planning process. Please just call us to request your planner, if you have any other questions, or if you would like to set an appointment.

Call 916-791-CARE (2273) or 800-316-1987 or email,

[email protected] [email protected] Call, or visit, Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, a veteran, family-owned and operated, full service funeral home & beautiful chapel serving the areas of Rocklin, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Antelope, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Folsom, Sacramento, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Davis, Granite Bay, Loomis, Auburn, and Lincoln.

916-225-3570
   [email protected]    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

1 Comment

Understanding Grief

9/11/2015

1 Comment

 
Picture
As an Estate Planning attorney I often work with people who are grieving and that requires me to be empathetic and understand grief as well as the grieving process. 

I work with people to set up their estate plans.  My practice also includes assisting clients in utilizing the documents when a loved one has become incapacitated or has passed away. During this time the parties involved are dealing with grief over the incapacity or loss of their loved one, as well as all the legal aspects. 

The following information is from Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel and shared with permission from Ron Harder. 

With the death of your loved one, your life has been changed. Understanding grief as you are going through it will provide the hope that you will be able to make it through this most difficult experience.

Ron Harder, owner of Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, hosts a radio program on KFIA Sacramento (710 on the AM dial) each Thursday evening at 11:00PM & Saturday morning at 11:00AM.  You can listen from any location on iHeart.com or KFIA.com.

The information below is from the Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel website.  Please visit the site for more information and assistance.

♥ Time. Don’t try to rush through your grief. It will take time to work through all the emotions that come with grief.

♥ Every task is a challenge. It seems as if your world is standing still. Each task seems to be a much bigger challenge than it really is. You’re tired and you don’t want to think about anything except to deal with your pain. All of these feelings are normal.

♥ Be patient with yourself. Some losses will affect you more deeply than others. Don’t base your current grief recovery on a prior experience.

♥ Everyone grieves differently. Even family members who grieve the same loss will deal with their loss differently because each person’s relationship with the loved one was different.

♥ Accept help when it is offered. When people offer to help, it is their way of dealing with their own pain over the loss. It will also allow them to share their compassion for you. Allowing others to lighten your burden, even in a very small way like running an errand, or helping to clean your house or mow your lawn, will prove rewarding for both you and your friends. Knowing you have caring friends will strengthen you.

♥ Your faith is important. It is very personal, but those who have a personal faith draw strength from it as they endure their grief.

♥ Will I ever have all the answers? There are always many questions surrounding a death. There will be some questions that may never be answered. In time, you will find that the best way to deal with those unanswered questions is to accept that these questions will
remain unanswered. Dwelling on them will result in prolonged anger over the death.


♥ Join a grief support group. GriefShare is an excellent 13-week grief support series. Learning about how to deal with grief and meeting others who are at different levels and who grieve differently than you is an excellent way to realize that you can move forward in this process. Check with Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel to find out about a GriefShare group near you.

♥ Reflect on pleasant memories. In the beginning, you are likely to associate only sadness with thoughts of your loved one. In time, however, you will be able think about your loved one and remember the wonderful times you enjoyed together.

♥ Why do I feel like I’m in a fog? You feel like you’re in a fog because your brain is
working extremely hard to sort through all the pain of your sorrow. As you work through your emotions and gain some understanding about your loss, the fog will lift. This may take months.


♥ Decisions. It is wise to hold off on making major decisions for a year after a significant
loss. Many time, a decisions is made on an emotional level (in honor of the loved one), but the decision is regretted later when the bereaved is able to think more clearly and logically.


♥ Take care of yourself. Do what makes you comfortable. If you make a commitment, make certain the others know that you may need to excuse yourself if it is too much for you.

Call 916-791-CARE (2273) or 800-316-1987 or email,

[email protected]
[email protected]

Call, or visit, Heritage Oaks Memorial Chapel, a veteran, family-owned and operated, full service funeral home & beautiful chapel serving the areas of Rocklin, Roseville, Citrus Heights, Antelope, Fair Oaks, Carmichael, Folsom, Sacramento, Elk Grove, West Sacramento, Davis, Granite Bay, Loomis, Auburn, and Lincoln.

           916-225-3570
   [email protected]    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

1 Comment

Family Members as Paid Caregivers?

11/20/2014

1 Comment

 
Picture
Family members often chose to care for their loved ones rather than hiring professional caregivers. This choice often serves the needs and desires of the person in need of care, but there are some important issues to consider regarding payment to family members. 

Larry Dawes, MSW,  outlines a few considerations in this short article.  It is well worth reading before taking on the task of caring for a family member and receiving payment for providing that care.
1 Comment

Health Care Discussions and Legal Facts

11/15/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Do you find it difficult to talk about your wishes surrounding end of life care? Are you confused by advice from well meaning family and friends? Find out the legal facts, as well as the steps you need to take to protect yourself and your loved ones. You will enjoy the peace of mind that you have taken care of your end of life planning.  

0 Comments

End of Life Wishes

11/1/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
What are your wishes surrounding your end-of-life care?

60% of people say that making sure their family is not burdened by  tough decisions is “extremely important”

56% have not communicated their end-of-life wishes

I know that no guide and no single conversation can cover all the decisions that you and your family may face.  A conversation can provide a shared understanding of what matters most to you and your loved ones, helping them to make decisions for you when the time comes.

The Conversation Project has created a Starter Kit.  It doesn't answer every question, but it will help to organize your thoughts to begin the conversation with your loved ones.

You can use it whether you are getting ready to tell someone else what you want, or to help you assist someone else to share their wishes.

- See more at: http://theconversationproject.org



0 Comments

    Author

    Colleen J. Watters is a dedicated estate planning and probate lawyer. She also specializes in special needs and pet care planning. A graduate of Lincoln School of Law, a member of the California State Bar since 2008, a native of Sacramento, an active volunteer with the American River Parkway Foundation and the Placer SPCA.

    Archives

    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    May 2019
    May 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    August 2017
    July 2016
    June 2016
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    November 2014

    Categories

    All
    Advanced Healthcare Directive
    Adventures
    Alzheimers
    Autism
    Beneficiary
    Business
    Business Succession Planning
    Caregiving
    Charitable Contributions
    Charitable Giving
    Cycling
    Dementia
    Divorce
    Domestic Violence
    Donating
    Elderly
    End Of Life
    Estate Planning
    Family Businesses
    Giving
    Grief
    Health Care End Of Life
    Kayaking
    LGBT
    Nursing Homes
    Pets
    Power Of Attorney
    Probate Property
    Realestate
    Safe Havens
    Saving For Education
    Seniors
    Special Needs
    Special Needs Children
    Stress Reduction
    Trusts
    Virtual Estate Planning
    Wills
    Women

    RSS Feed

    Contact Colleen J. Watters

Submit