I know my dad has drawn up a basic will now. And has given me a card that has the details of his pre-paid cremation plan. (Which he handed to me on his birthday, because hey, I got my morbid sense of humor from him.)

However, Pete and I haven't done ANY sort of estate planning. Which we probably should.

Brenda, that's crazy! What if you don't know anyone close enough in Illinois??

Right?? I'm really fortunate that I have some very close family friends who live here who I'm comfortable asking to be put in that position. But that's a total fluke. I have no idea how I would handle if this one specific couple didn't live here.

Tep, even if he has nothing, he still should have a will.

I've hassled him about it, and he mutters something about me being executor of his power of attorney, and I try to tell him that's not the same thing, and then it gets ridiculous because he insists that I have power of attorney "over everything" and then I give up before I start screaming.

No, that's really how it goes. I get so irrationally angry at his misunderstanding and his refusal to consider that maybe what he thinks is correct isn't correct. And I've even tried telling him that what he's doing will make things harder for me and Jeff when he dies, and he just says I have power of attorney "over everything." And then I tell him I have to get off the phone and I scream at Tim for a while.

Tep, even if he has nothing, he still should have a will. If he goes without one, you'll have to wait until the court appoints an administrator to access anything that solely in his name (bank accounts, credit cards, etc.), and the administrator would have to be approved by all parties who potentially stand to inherit--you and your brother. If he names one in a will, it's done. No discussion, and no waiting for the court.

This is my dad's situation. The only thing he has really is a life insurance policy and a beat up old truck. (I paid off his credit card last year anyway.) But the other thing he has is kids from a prior marriage that we've never really had contact with. So things could end up such a mess.

I have no idea how much Jamaican finance law might differ from American--surely there's a reason everyone doesn't do this. What am I missing? What's wrong with it?

Probably tax purposes, ita !. And--depending on how the joint access is set up--that money could be considered yours as much as your father's, so it could screw up financial aid, or other income-dependent services. Creditors can also go after that money. In the U.S., not sure how/if it differs in Jamaica.

What if you don't know anyone close enough in Illinois??

In some states, you can appoint an in-state agent for an out-of-state administrator.

My shit isn't planned. I don't even have DNR or anything set up.

My shit should be planned, because I have no immediate family in the country, so whatever has to be done has immediate added clusterfuck points.

My shit isn't planned. I don't even have DNR or anything set up.

Nor mine. Although the other day I told Tim to make sure to donate every part of me that was donate-able. I want to be someone's zombie jaw.

MFNlaw, I'm trying to remember if US tax forms have asked me about foreign accounts--I didn't have any last year, so it wasn't an issue. But can people here go after his money there because I'm liable for a debt?

Aaaaaugh. I just realized I HAVE to nag Pete into us making some sort of estate plans, because I'm not actually listed on the mortgage. I bet him having a green card would complicate things, too.

But can people here go after his money there because I'm liable for a debt?

Assets are assets, regardless of location. It will be more difficult to get their hands on the money, but it can be done. Foreign assets are seized all of the time. Again it depends on what kind of access he grants you to those accounts.

U.S. tax forms will ask you about foreign INCOME, and income-producing assets, but just the accounts? I don't think so.