Someone to handle my affairs post mortem

[zki529]

What is the name of your state? Ohio -- Someone told me it's called a legal guardian but when I looked online, legal guardian usually referred usually referred to a child or someone without mental capacities. I've also heard personal representative. What I would want is someone who after my death would step in and handle my affairs. There's no real estate, large amount of assets, involved family members, business or debt. My body will go to local hospital for body donation. I suppose someone would have to call the hospital. Assume no family or friends.

 

[adjusterjack]

Look into the concept of private fiduciary. A person or company that (for a fee) you appoint in your will to handle your estate after you die if you don't have a trusted relative to do it.

Here is information for Ohio.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ohio+private+fiduciary&atb=v252-3__&ia=web

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state? Ohio -- Someone told me it's called a legal guardian but when I looked online, legal guardian usually referred usually referred to a child or someone without mental capacities. I've also heard personal representative. What I would want is someone who after my death would step in and handle my affairs. There's no real estate, large amount of assets, involved family members, business or debt. My body will go to local hospital for body donation. I suppose someone would have to call the hospital. Assume no family or friends.

No, it is not a legal guardian. It is you having a will and appointing someone to be your executor or administrator (states word it in various terms) of your estate. They are the person who is tasked with making sure that your final wishes are honored.

 

[zddoodah]

Someone told me it's called a legal guardian but when I looked online, legal guardian usually referred usually referred to a child or someone without mental capacities. I've also heard personal representative. What I would want is someone who after my death would step in and handle my affairs.

You are correct that "guardian" or "legal guardian" is not the correct term. The person who administers a decedent's estate is typically called a personal representative, executor or administrator.

What I would want is someone who after my death would step in and handle my affairs. There's no real estate, large amount of assets, involved family members, business or debt. My body will go to local hospital for body donation. I suppose someone would have to call the hospital. Assume no family or friends.

Dare I ask? If you have no substantial assets or family members who are important to you (or friends?), why do you care? If you want to make advance arrangements with a total stranger, you certainly can do that (although there's no repository of folks who do this just for funsies), but I don't really see the point.

 

[quincy]

... Dare I ask? If you have no substantial assets or family members who are important to you (or friends?), why do you care? If you want to make advance arrangements with a total stranger, you certainly can do that (although there's no repository of folks who do this just for funsies), but I don't really see the point.

I think most people care about what happens to them. And zki529 has expressed a wish to have his/her body donated to science. That would require an executor or administrator.

 

[LdiJ]

I think most people care about what happens to them. And zki529 has expressed a wish to have his/her body donated to science. That would require an executor or administrator.

Although possibly designating on their driver's license that they want to be an organ donator might accomplish something similar without an executor or administrator.

 

[zki529]

You are correct that "guardian" or "legal guardian" is not the correct term. The person who administers a decedent's estate is typically called a personal representative, executor or administrator.



Dare I ask? If you have no substantial assets or family members who are important to you (or friends?), why do you care? If you want to make advance arrangements with a total stranger, you certainly can do that (although there's no repository of folks who do this just for funsies), but I don't really see the point.

Good point, My thinking was if the maintenance man in my apt. bld found me deceased in my apt. there are my belongings and my banks accounts. Forgive me, I'm not trying to say what you mean but is what you mean - if I'm gone and there are no family or friends (that I truly care about or that are still alive), what does it matter about my belongings and accounts, I'm gone.

 

[zki529]

I think most people care about what happens to them. And zki529 has expressed a wish to have his/her body donated to science. That would require an executor or administrator.

That's the essence of my question - how could I appoint an executor or administrator who is NOT a friend or family member,. The hospital I'm donating my body to only needs to be called and they'll come and get me - it can be arranged ahead of time.

 

[Taxing Matters]

That's the essence of my question - how could I appoint an executor or administrator who is NOT a friend or family member.

You pay someone to step in and do that and then name that person as your personal representative in your will. No one who does not have a personal connection to you will want to do this work for free.

 

[zki529]

You pay someone to step in and do that and then name that person as your personal representative in your will. No one who does not have a personal connection to you will want to do this work for free.

I assumed I would pay..

 

[quincy]

That's the essence of my question - how could I appoint an executor or administrator who is NOT a friend or family member,. The hospital I'm donating my body to only needs to be called and they'll come and get me - it can be arranged ahead of time.

Here is a link to the Ohio Legal Help Organization with information on advance directives:

https://www.ohiolegalhelp.org/topic/ohio-advance-directives

If you are a low-income resident of Ohio, you could be eligible for free or low cost legal assistance, to help you in creating a durable power of attorney (someone to help in making your healthcare decisions for you if you are incapacitated) and a living will.

You can at any time add a pay-on-death beneficiary to your bank account(s). The beneficiary could be a charitable organization if you have no person you wish to name.

I think you are smart to plan now, regardless of the size of your estate. Without advance planning, and with no known relatives, the state will take control of your remaining assets.

Do you have anyone in your life who checks on you on a regular basis?

 

[zki529]

To be honest, I am a loner. I have an ok income, not low. Correct me if I'm wrong, It's starting to sound like it's not a lawyer I need. I would have a will at my desk so who ever found me could call the Hospital donor program to come and get me - the hospital will cremate and bury me. Then there would be the handling of my belongings and my financial accounts. I wouldn't want any of that to go to the state but rather to The Boys Club who saved my life as a child. So we have all these terms, personal representative, POA, personal fiduciary, executor, administrator. I just want to be pointed in the right direction to find someone I can pay to be prepared to step in and handle things when I go so my future planning is complete.

 

[quincy]

To be honest, I am a loner. I have an ok income, not low. Correct me if I'm wrong, It's starting to sound like it's not a lawyer I need. I would have a will at my desk so who ever found me could call the Hospital donor program to come and get me - the hospital will cremate and bury me. Then there would be the handling of my belongings and my financial accounts. I wouldn't want any of that to go to the state but rather to The Boys Club who saved my life as a child. So we have all these terms, personal representative, POA, personal fiduciary, executor, administrator. I just want to be pointed in the right direction to find someone I can pay to be prepared to step in and handle things when I go so my future planning is complete.

I suggest you call the Ohio Legal Help Organization for help in getting your affairs in order so that you do not have to worry about what happens if you become incapacitated or die.

The Organization can direct you to do-it-yourself forms to fill out and you can visit your bank to add a POD beneficiary (e.g., Boys Club) to your accounts.

A lot can be accomplished without the services of an attorney. You will need witnesses available when you sign the documents, and you will want to figure out who is willing to act on your behalf if you die or, importantly, if you don’t die but are incapable of informing hospital personnel of your wishes (e.g., DNR, organ and/or body donation).

Perhaps there is someone with the Boys Club organization who does not mind being designated for this role.

 

[zki529]

I suggest you call the Ohio Legal Help Organization for help in getting your affairs in order so that you do not have to worry about what happens if you become incapacitated or die.

The Organization can direct you to do-it-yourself forms to fill out and you can visit your bank to add a POD beneficiary (e.g., Boys Club) to your accounts.

A lot can be accomplished without the services of an attorney. You will need witnesses available when you sign the documents, and you will want to figure out who is willing to act on your behalf if you die or, importantly, if you don’t die but are incapable of informing hospital personnel of your wishes (e.g., DNR, organ and/or body donation).

Perhaps there is someone with the Boy Scout organization who does not mind being designated for this role.

Helpful information, thank you for your kind assistance.
D

 

[zddoodah]

Good point, My thinking was if the maintenance man in my apt. bld found me deceased in my apt. there are my belongings and my banks accounts. Forgive me, I'm not trying to say what you mean but is what you mean - if I'm gone and there are no family or friends (that I truly care about or that are still alive), what does it matter about my belongings and accounts, I'm gone.

Well...for me, I'm married and have kids. I want my stuff to go to them when I die (assuming I don't outlive them). However, if I had no spouse or kids or close friends, I wouldn't really care what became of my stuff (unless there was some charity that I was particularly passionate about). In your case, you said you have no significant assets and no "involved family." I interpreted that to mean there are no close family members that you want to get your stuff when you die. You didn't mention anything about friends, which is why, in my prior response, I asked whether you did or didn't. If your situation were such that none of those things apply to you, then why go to any effort or expense while you're alive? That's my point.

To be honest, I am a loner. I have an ok income, not low. Correct me if I'm wrong, It's starting to sound like it's not a lawyer I need. I would have a will at my desk so who ever found me could call the Hospital donor program to come and get me - the hospital will cremate and bury me. Then there would be the handling of my belongings and my financial accounts. I wouldn't want any of that to go to the state but rather to The Boys Club who saved my life as a child. So we have all these terms, personal representative, POA, personal fiduciary, executor, administrator. I just want to be pointed in the right direction to find someone I can pay to be prepared to step in and handle things when I go so my future planning is complete.

Under these circumstances, the best thing to do is visit a local estate planning attorney. Explain your circumstances and wishes and ask if he/she will serve as your nominated executor and, if not, if he/she can recommend someone.