We are going to tackle 3 major topics in this session:
- Preparing your home
- Getting the necessary legal documents in place
- Preparing a ‘God-Forbid List’
The Process of Decluttering Your Home
This ranges from Soft Decluttering to “Swedish Death Cleaning.”
Soft Decluttering
Allows you to start small—One drawer or shelf at a time or one category of items (winter coats or drinking glasses). Take everything out, examine each item and decide what you really want to put back. Have 2 containers—one trash, one for items to donate.
Downsizing
Decluttering on a larger scale is a room-by-room process. Take a look at your current space. Does it look cluttered? Envision how you would like it to look. Would you be happier with more visible floor space? Visually strip the room bare and add items back one by one.
Develop a list of questions to help in sorting through items. Some possibilities:
- Is it useful? Do I really need it or will something else I have serve the same purpose?
- Does it make me happy? Does it have sentimental value? If so, how much? Have I used it or worn it in the past year?
- Old Papers and Photos
- What is it important for you to keep? How do you want things filed?
- What can be scanned/digitized (for photos AARP recently suggested Legacybox and ScanMyPhotos)
Digital Decluttering
Think what makes sense in terms of how you want things organized. There are digital decluttering checklists on the internet.
“Swedish Death Cleaning” is not just about getting rid of things but of thoughtfully shaping the space you live in. The goal is to create a calm, peaceful environment, where every item is the result of an intentional decision to have it around.
It also recognizes that decluttering and simplifying your belongings is not just about you. It is a gift to those you leave behind.
Resources for Decluttering
- Judy Tiger, professional organizer and owner of DC-based Just That Simple, will introduce you to her “house review” technique. Whether you plan to age-in-place or downsize to move, you will learn from Tiger’s soothing, step-by-step approach, no matter whether your challenge is papers, clothes, photos, memorabilia, books, the kitchen, pantry, attic, basement or everything. Tiger says, “Clutter can be overwhelming, confusing and stressful”. A few simple steps can change chaos to calm.
- Project B Green provides pickup services for free, and the donations go to Mary’s Center, Martha’s Table, and one other place. Project B Green is the same group that has the truck by the gas station on P and 21st/22nd that you can bring your stuff to. But pick-up seems to be a more attractive option to most. See: Project B Green
- Katie Davis at Town and Country focuses on move management. She is a bit expensive but very helpful. (240) 644-9800
- Amy Smucker specializes in in-person services for organization and decluttering of your entire home/office or one room/area. If you do not need physical help, she is willing to talk you through organizational and downsizing challenges via phone and/or email. For more information and prices, see: Amy Smucker
- Orion’s Attic calls itself the green choice for your estate liquidation and downsizing needs. We partner with Simply Downsized to provide experienced and trustworthy senior move management and downsizing support to clients in the greater Washington D.C. area. Anna Novak and her network of experienced pros take the guesswork out of downsizing. See: Orion’s Attic
- Carrie Noel-Nosbaum, 240-766-7909 carrieitawaydmv@gmail.com Turning the Page
Options for Evaluating and Disposing of Personal Property
There comes a time, maybe several times in a life, when it is important to take stock of where things stand in your home whether because of an imminent move, potential downsizing or just wanting to slim things down a bit. Here are some options you might find helpful.
- Getting Items Appraised: For some people, a first step in reviewing their property is to work with an appraiser to determine if anything has value and might be sold. There are many such places. Winston Art Group is “independent of any auction house or dealer.” They “specializes in confidential and objective appraisal services and advice on the acquisition or disposal of all fine and decorative art, jewelry, and collectibles.” They send someone to do an overview and then let you know which possessions warrant a full appraisal, which are decorative items and help sort things out.
- Professional Organizers or “Declutterers”: There is a whole industry around helping folks to organize and get rid of personal possessions. Marie Kondo being the most famous example. They come in and work with a client to decide what to keep, donate or just discard.
- Consignment Shops: There are many shops – some are part of non-profit organizations – some are stand-alone that will sell consigned items such as clothes, jewelry, accessories, household items, luggage, etc. Some of these, however, will only accept very high-end items. They may also have specific rules for donations and items accepted that can be difficult to accommodate.
- Organizations that accept donations: There are many places that seek donations for projects that support important services to the community. They include well-known sites such as:
- A Wider Circle
- Attic to Basement
- Bikes for the World
- Habitat for Humanity
There are many others; go to “Contractors” on the DCV website. Note which have particular needs and/or will limit what can be donated.
- Salvation Army/Goodwill: These well-known donation centers include stores for shopping and will take many items. Each has a website with information on what they accept, what they won’t take and how the stores work.
- Packing and Delivering items to Donate or Discard: There are many companies that will come into your home and pack up items to be donated or discard and dispose of them. Two, College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving and 123 Junk will take items to places like Goodwill and/or Salvation Army rather than just discarding them.
What Is the Process for Creating a Will and/or Trust?
Below is a generic process for creating a will that has worked for many of us. This description is not intended to be definitive. You can find more information by exploring the Internet. Your circumstances affect your will. If you already have a will, some of the information may be redundant but might be helpful if you want to review and revise your will.
Note: in this session we do not address a Living Will, which sets forth your end-of-life medical wishes. We will discuss Living Wills in a later session.
- Find a lawyer. Possible resources for recommendations include asking friends and family, searching the Dupont Circle Village website, sending a message on the DCV email listserv. Regarding costs, an Internet search indicates a lawyer typically charges between $300 and $1,000+ to draft a simple will, with the cost affected by the complexity of your estate and the lawyer’s fee structure.
- Gather information before the first visit to your lawyer so you can answer your lawyer’s questions about assets, beneficiaries, personal representative, and power of attorney designees.
- A list of your assets, including financial (bank accounts, savings accounts, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, etc.) and real (property, art works, gems, rare books, vintage wine collections, etc.). Include assets held in DC, other states, and other countries.
Note: where possible, as with some financial assets, designate your beneficiaries directly with the financial institution. - A list of your primary, secondary, and other beneficiaries to inherit your assets that do not have a direct beneficiary. For example, you may choose your child, spouse, partner, best friend as the primary beneficiary. In the event you survive the primary beneficiary, ask who will become your secondary beneficiary? If you survive your primary and secondary beneficiaries, who will become the next-in-line beneficiary? In other words, have three levels of beneficiaries.
Note: where possible, as with some financial assets, you can list your primary beneficiaries directly with the financial institution. - Name the people you want to be your General and Durable Power of Attorney with contact information who will handle your business/financial affairs if two doctors certify that you are unable. What are the qualities for selecting a POA?
- Name the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care with contact information who will make your health care decisions if two doctors certify that you are unable. What are the qualities for selecting a HCPOA?
- Name the Personal Representative with contact information who ensures that the assets in your name, excluding other assets that have a beneficiary designation, pass in accordance with your Will. What are the qualities for selecting a PR?
- A list of your assets, including financial (bank accounts, savings accounts, life insurance policies, retirement accounts, etc.) and real (property, art works, gems, rare books, vintage wine collections, etc.). Include assets held in DC, other states, and other countries.
- Additional questions to consider asking your lawyer at the first meeting include:
- What are the legal requirements for a valid will in DC?
- What is probate and how long does it take?
- Does a legal will need to go through probate?
- How often should I review and update my will?
- What is a trust? What are the different kinds? How do I know if whether to create one?
- Do I need a trustee? What qualities should I look for in this person?
- Does making a trust avoid probate?
- What assets should be put in the trust?
- Are my beneficiaries listed in my will also the beneficiaries of my trust?
- How do I handle jointly owned assets?
- How can I designate specific items to specific beneficiaries?
- In what way can I provide for beneficiaries with special needs?
- What are the options for managing inherited assets for minor children?
- Make an appointment and visit your lawyer. At the meeting, your lawyer will ask you questions regarding the above information and answer your questions. Your lawyer will use this information to draft your will, and trust, if applicable, and send you the draft documents. The documents will include
- General and Durable Power of Attorney
- Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
- Last Will and Testament
- Trust documents, if you decide to create a trust
- Living Will Declaration, which we will discuss in a later session
- Review the draft documents and make sure the assets, beneficiaries, and people designated as power of attorney and trustee are correct. Send changes to your lawyer who will finalize the documents.
- Make a second appointment to visit your lawyer. During this visit you will sign your will (and trust). Again, make sure the assets and names are correct. Your lawyer will have necessary people available to witness and sign the documents.
- Store your will (and trust) in a safe place that your designated personal representative can find. Your lawyer can supply you with both electronic and hard copies.
- Review your will periodically to see if it needs updating. For example, one of your beneficiaries may have died and needs to be replaced. If the changes, called codicils, are simple, you can write your own codicil. Or, you can have your lawyer do it. Look up “codicils” Online for more information.