Think Outside the Box: No Casket Required Funerals

A funeral is a celebration of a life, which is why careful consideration and planning go into deciding what songs should be played and which bible verses read. Everything from the flower arrangements to pallbearers reflect who and what the deceased loved and valued during life. So, when it comes to deciding what to do with your remains after you die, shouldn’t you think outside the box? Read on to discover four non-casket funeral ideas to plan a memorial service tailored to you.

1. Be buried naturally

If you’re environmentally conscience, a natural burial may appeal to you. During a natural burial, the deceased is wrapped within a shroud or put to rest in a biodegradable casket. The whole idea of a natural burial is that the body will decompose naturally. So, chemicals used in the embalming process of most burials today are not used in a natural burial. Since embalming chemicals are interned with the deceased, they impact the environment. Being buried naturally is a more sustainable, eco-friendly option.

2. Exit the Earth, figuratively and literally

Many religions believe your soul or spirit leaves Earth after death. Thanks to modern technology, your body can exit the Earth after death, too. Several companies, such as Elysium Space and Celestis, provide options for a space burial. Prices range from just under a thousand dollars all the way up to ten grand depending on what type of burial you book. A variety of options are available, including having some of your ashes launched to the moon, becoming a shooting star, or briefly orbiting the Earth. All options require cremation first.

3. Light up the night sky

On a similar note to that of a space burial, you can have your ashes turned into fireworks and launched into the night sky. Cremation is also a requirement for this type of memorial service. A variety of fireworks display options are available, including self-launching rockets and professional displays. Many of the options allow you to select what color your fireworks will be. Pricing and availability vary by state, so a little research will be needed to determine if going out with a bang is the right choice for you.

4. Donate your body to science

If you’d like to give the gift of knowledge to the next generation, donating your body to science is an excellent choice to consider. Several programs are available to make the donation, including Biogift and Science Care. Medical schools also accept donations. A little prep is required for this option because a medical exam is needed to determine if you are a qualifying candidate. Forms will need to be filled out and family members notified so they know who to contact when you die. On a side note, donating your body is also an excellent way to save money on funeral expenses. This is because most of the programs accepting whole body donations will pay for cremation. Your ashes will then be returned to your family.

 

 

 

 

 

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3 Legal Documents All College Students Need

Preparing to send a student off to college is equally as exiting as it is challenging. From a toaster to toiletries, you want to make sure your student has everything they need to leave the nest and head out on their own. However, the independence that comes with coming of age and heading off to college could have unforeseeable consequences if you and your student don’t have proper legal documents in place.

When someone turns 19 in the state of Nebraska, they are a legal adult. This means their parents are no longer able to make legal or medical decisions for them. So, if a college student were to have a medical emergency or become incapacitated, their parents can’t make legal or medical decisions on their behalf. This potential chaos is avoidable, however, if families have the following legal documents in place.

1. Healthcare Power of Attorney

As previously explained, once a student is a legal adult, they are responsible for making their own medical decisions. Being in charge of medical decisions has its advantages. Parents will no longer have to be called to approve a flu shot at the campus doctor’s office, for example. However, if a student were to become incapacitated, someone will have to make medical decisions for them. For this reason, students need to designate a healthcare power of attorney. A designated healthcare power of attorney is able to make medical decisions for someone who is incapacitated. By having your student designate you as their healthcare power of attorney, you can avoid having a stranger in charge of their medical decisions.

2. HIPPA Form

Students should also sign a HIPPA form before heading off to college. HIPPA is the acronym for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This form allows doctor’s to share medical information about a patient with designated people. Without this form, you would receive limited knowledge about your student’s condition if a medical emergency occurred, even though you are family.

3. Durable Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney document is also important for college students to have. Designating a durable power of attorney is important because it gives parents the ability to sign documents on the student’s behalf. So, if  a student were to become incapacitated, you could sign documents, such as their apartment lease, on their behalf. A durable power of attorney also has access to financial accounts.

By creating these 3 legal documents, you will not only gain peace of mind, but can rest assured that your student is prepared for anything that comes their way.

 

 

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5 Real, Unique Last Will and Testaments

A will is a legal document with instructions for divvying your assets between your heirs and beneficiaries. While a standard will includes provisions for things like who should get the family china and plans for your funeral, some people think outside the box when it comes to making bequests and expressing final wishes. Read on to discover five real, unique wills.

1. Flowers from beyond the grave

Radio and television comedian Jack Benny included a provision in his will to have flowers delivered to his widow, Mary Livingston, daily. Livingston wrote about the sweet gesture in a biography about her husband of nearly 50 years. The title of the biography is ‘One Long-Stemmed Rose’ because according to Livingston’s obituary printed in the New York Times, ”Every day since Jack has gone the florist has delivered one long-stemmed red rose to my home.” The daily flower deliveries were said to contradict her husband’s t.v. persona as a penny pincher.

2. Leaving a bitter legacy

The will created by German poet Heinrich Heine falls on the opposite end of the love spectrum. After battling with spinal tuberculosis, Heine died and left his estate to his wife, Mathilde. However, his bequest came with one condition: she must re marry so that “at least one man would regret my death.” Mathilde fulfilled the condition and inherited the estate. No one knows if her second marriage proved to be as rocky as her first.

 

3. Heirs plucked from a phone book 

The heirs of someone’s estate are usually related to them. So, who do you leave your estate to if you have no heirs? A childless Portuguese aristocrat, Luis Carlos de Noronha Cabral de Camara answered this question by selecting 70 random people from a Lisbon phone book. His strange decision was questioned. According to the Guardian, the notary who notarized his will asked Luis Carlos several questions to ensure he was of sound mind. The motivation behind his act was clear to those close to him, though. A close friend said Luis Carlos strange bequests were more than likely motivated by his desire to keep the state from getting any money because he thought the state had been robbing him. The 70 lucky strangers selected from the phone book should’ve received several thousand euros each.

4. The gift of a birthday

Usually, people receive gifts on their birthday. In a strange twist, author Robert Louis Stevenson gave the gift of his birth date when he died. In his will, Stevenson left his birthday to his friend, Annie H. Ide. Ide, whose birthday fell on Christmas day, had told Stevenson she felt cheated out of a real birthday. So, Stevenson left her his birthday, which was November 13th. All he asked in return for his bequest was that Ide take care of his birthday with “moderation and humanity” because “the said birthday not being so young as it once was.”

5. A multimillionaire Maltese 

According to the New York Times, hotelier Leona Helmsley left her eight-year-old dog, Trouble, $12 million, which was more than her four grandchildren received. Unfortunately for Trouble, New York law says a judge has the power to reduce pet bequests. A reduction to a pet bequest can occur when the money left to the pet is more than what the pet needs to live comfortably. Trouble’s bequest was reduced to $2 million.

 

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Probate Research in Nebraska: A Guide

At home DNA testing kit commercials are everywhere, but before you send away for one, consider an alternative, more personal option for tracing your family history: probate research. Probate research involves looking through probate records. Probate records are created when someone dies. They keep track of court decisions involving estates, adoptions, bonds, wills, and guardianship. Since the records keep track of many components of a person’s life, they are perfect for genealogical research. So, before you spit into the little plastic tube to have your DNA analyzed, try tracing your family history by conducting your own probate research.

 Step 1: Prepare for Probate Research

Probate research requires a little prep. First, it’s important to determine which family member you’re going to research. You want the person you’re researching to be someone you know a little about. This is because you need to know their legal name in order to look up their documents. Knowing a little about the person will also make it easier to determine which county holds their probate records. The county clerk’s office in every county holds the probate records of its residents.

Step 2: Obtain the Documents

Once you’ve determined which county holds the probate records, you’ll want to get in touch with the county clerk’s office to plan a visit. When you get there, make sure you don’t ask just to see your family member’s will. Probate records include a wide array of documents, such as an individual’s will and associated records, petitions, guardianship, appointment of administrators and executors, division of property, accounts, and receipts. By asking to see the will, you’re potentially excluding other documents in your family member’s file that also include valuable information.

Step 3: Sift through the Information

Once you have access to your family member’s probate records, you can start sifting through them to find valuable information. Probate records usually show ties between close family members. Wills typically contain the most genealogically information. This is because the relationship between the deceased and their heirs is defined in the will. For example, a will would read “to my nephew, John Doe, I leave my pocket watch.” So, the language used to describe the relationship between an heir and the deceased helps to trace your genealogy or family tree. Other information, such as maiden names and married names of women can  be identified in probate records. For this reason, probate records are an effective way for you to conduct your own genealogical research.

 

 

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7 Tips for Choosing a Legal Guardian for Your Child

Part of parenting is making plans. From scheduling play dates to setting up a college savings fund, you meticulously make plans to ensure your child is well cared for on their journey to adulthood.  Of course, you plan to be there for every milestone, but what if the unthinkable happens and you and your spouse become incapacitated or die? Have you made plans for who will step in and raise your child if you’re gone? The best way to prepare for this type of situation is to designate a legal guardian. A legal guardian is a person who makes legal, medical, and financial decisions for a ward. Read on to discover seven tips for choosing a legal guardian for your child.

1. Expect to feel disappointed.

You probably have high expectations and standards when it comes to whom you want in charge of your child’s future and physical and emotional well-being. Of course no one is going to be able to meet all of your expectations, which is disappointing. However, you need to accept your disappointment in order to move on and choose the person who is going to be the best fit.

2. Consider all of your options.

Choosing someone to entrust your child with is a big job. It’s best to consider all of your options. Make a list then narrow it down to your top candidates before weighing the pros and cons of each person.

3. Decide what values matter most to you.

Is it important to you that your child is raised within a certain religion? Do you want your child to grow up and appreciate the value of hard work? You and your spouse have probably planned how to raise your child in an environment reflective of your own values. For this reason, it’s important that you choose a guardian whose values and parenting style are similar to your own.

4. Age is a factor.

When considering possible legal guardian candidates for your child, it is important to remember that age does, in fact, count as a factor. A legal guardian should be someone who is young enough to see their job as guardian all the way through. Health plays a role as well since it’s important that the person you choose is able to take care of themselves as well as your child.

5. Financial stability matters.

Raising a child costs money. Would suddenly becoming responsible for your child place a financial burden on the legal guardian? If the answer is yes, it’s probably best to go back to your list and consider another candidate.

6. Location, location, location

The location of the legal guardian you choose is important to consider as well. If the legal guardian you choose lives out of state, your child may have to move and experience a rougher transition because on top of losing you, they could lose contact with friends and family members within the community they grew up in.

7. Is your legal guardian willing to accept the responsibility?

Finally, one of the most important steps to choosing a legal guardian is communicating with the guardian. It is important to ask your choice of guardian if they are willing to take on the responsibility. Hopefully they will say yes, but if they do not, you will have time to find a new guardian who is willing.

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