# End of Life paperwork. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2019, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294 "2019-07-19T07:29:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/1 "2019-07-19T07:29:00Z")
HELL-low, it’s been a while hasn’t it. Things are mostly the same for me, maybe a bit better, it’s hard to tell sometimes. A friend died a couple months ago and I’m having minor surgery next month, so the paperwork of life & death have been on my mind lately. I’m filling out an \*\*Advance Health Care Directive \*\*now, but what other paper work do I need to take care of? A will seems pointless as I’m on disability. I have 88 cents in my checking and half of my belongings are milk crates. My most valued items are my computer & mini fridge. There is no Life insurance or prepaid burial plans. The city/country will have to deal with my remains. What other decisions should I make now, while I still can? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/2 "2019-07-19T07:36:10Z")
Yes, the dope was the best place, I could think for this.😛 ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/3 "2019-07-19T08:50:39Z")
[Rant]Where the FUCK have you been dude? I posted a few months ago that you were MIA, and no response, and have been seriously worried. [/Rant] :mad: But now you’re here, so happy to see you posting again. Sorry, being in Aus I can’t give advice about what to do in the US re directives etc. Welcome home **Foggy** , you were missed. Don’t nick off again without telling us, ok? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/4 "2019-07-19T08:52:21Z")
I don’t know what is in the paperwork but do you have a Power of Attorney set up? ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/5 "2019-07-19T12:17:43Z")
Howdy, kambuckta.🙂 > [@kitap](#): > > I don’t know what is in the paperwork but do you have a Power of Attorney set up? The Advance Directive has a POA for health care. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/6 "2019-07-19T12:35:04Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > A will seems pointless as I’m on disability. I have 88 cents in my checking and half of my belongings are milk crates. My most valued items are my computer & mini fridge. If you have any assets at all, I don’t think a will is pointless. There are two purposes for a will: 1. to assure that your assets go to the heirs you intend; and 2. to assure that the state doesn’t have to spend a lot of time and money trying to figure out who should receive your assets and how to find those people. Even if #1 doesn’t matter to you, #2 would be a helpful consideration. IANAL, but ISTM a simple will declaring that your entire estate should be donated to Goodwill would take care of it. Bundle it together with your AHCD and keep them in a prominent place in your home (e.g. stuck to the front of the fridge) or with an acquaintance who is likely to be made aware of your death. For your upcoming surgery, you might provide these documents to your health care team. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/7 "2019-07-19T16:09:26Z")
God, I hate thinking about this stuff. I’m looking at challenges in my health care, recently. So it’s been on my mind too. I think POA should cover most things, advocacy if you’re unable to make decisions for your health care and /or financial things. I have an inherited bit of money stashed away. I put my youngest daughter as sole beneficiary. She’s now at an age of majority. I worried when she was minor that it would be taken away from her. The way she’s spending lately, I may to rethink her having all that ready cash:) Good luck on your surgery, Foggy. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/8 "2019-07-19T18:20:50Z")
> [@Foggy](#): > > The Advance Directive has a POA for health care. That’s fine, but what if you _knock on wood_ somehow become impaired but otherwise stable? Who is going to collect your disability checks and shop for food, pay your electric bill, and so on? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/9 "2019-07-19T18:25:04Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > [Rant]Where the FUCK have you been dude? I posted a few months ago that you were MIA, and no response, and have been seriously worried. [/Rant] :mad: > > But now you’re here, so happy to see you posting again. Sorry, being in Aus I can’t give advice about what to do in the US re directives etc. > > Welcome home **Foggy** , you were missed. Don’t nick off again without telling us, ok? 😃 Srsly! ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/10 "2019-07-19T18:34:07Z")
Passwords. . .if you pay any bills online or any other type of banking or commerce Safe combos keys. . .label obscure ones Make it easy (unless you want them to struggle) for your heirs to tidy up after you. I know that’s not paperwork, but it’s important nonetheless! mc ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/11 "2019-07-19T19:30:11Z")
It is good to know you’re still with us, Foggy. You’ve been missed. I don’t have any advice, but good luck with your minor surgery next week. Be sure to let us know it went well. ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2019, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/end-of-life-paperwork/837294/12 "2019-07-21T02:46:53Z")
Damn, but it’s good to hear from you, **Foggy**. I’m so glad you posted. Good luck with the surgery.