Recently we worked with a gentleman who had a very interesting quandary. 30 years ago he began working at a very large corporation. 29 years ago he was divorced, and never remarried. He recently decided to retire and start taking his Pension and Social Security.
Upon turning in his paperwork to the HR department, they requested a copy of his divorce decree. “From 29 years ago?” was his natural question. “Yes” they added. “But, she is deceased” he informed them. “OK, please produce a certified copy of her death certificate along with a copy of the divorce decree” they said. “What if I can’t find them?” he asked. “Then the pension gets issued to you and her estate. If there is a problem with the estate taking the money, you can contact an attorney to assist you.”
OK, sometimes I can be unreasonable, stubborn even, but this? Really?
This may sound like a complete fiction situation but it’s not. It’s the kind of thing that happens every day to all kinds of people. It’s not about being wealthy or thinking that your estate is too small to have a problem. It’s about getting it done right and having someone there that you can call and say HELP ME!
We’re starting a “TIPS” page on our website. It gives 5-6 tips a couple of times a month on the many issues that arise with handling the final affairs.
Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Tisha
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