When I was a little girl, I never thought about what would happen if my parents weren’t there anymore. They were loving constants who believed in me. My parents continually did their best to give me more opportunities than had been available to them. When my father passed away at age 55 after a long illness, I was in my late 20s and understood that he was no longer suffering from a painful fight with cancer. I did NOT understand what my mother went through in managing his estate. All I knew was that she handled it. 

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When my mother passed away, I was a wife and mother of teenagers, a sister, a full-time project manager and former journalist, a community volunteer -- and my mother's older daughter.  While grappling with the deep ache of missing her, I was tasked with dealing with the paperwork and logistics of handling her estate. I had to comb through paper files in her cabinets, files on her computer, and a very short list of contacts -- friends, doctors, insurance companies and her financial advisor. I was fortunate to have a younger sister I could commiserate with, and my Delta Sigma Theta Sorority sisters to lean on. But I still had to figure out where my mother's records were, the most effective ways to interact with creditors, insurance companies, and investment  companies, etc.  It was somewhat overwhelming.    

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I created letters to send to her creditors and a spreadsheet to keep track of which accounts I’d closed and which insurance companies I was grappling with. I developed templates of letters to fax (remember fax machines?) to companies along with copies of her death certificate to confirm my role as executrix. All while writing an obituary and eulogy, and collaborating with my sister to make funeral arrangements, then sell our mother's home and dispose of her belongings. 

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Years later, the idea to create this resource arose as I was compiling information my adult children will need in order to handle my affairs when they are in the situation I faced when my mother passed. Clear, simple worksheets completed in advance can give families the confidence and sense of relief that comes from knowing where to find important information when the time comes. That is what Time to Remember offers. 

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I'm not an attorney and this site doesn't offer legal advice, although it may direct you to where you can find such advice. I simply want to make preparing for dealing with an estate as straightforward as possible. I believe you'll find these tips, checklists and references useful. I hope they give you peace of mind.

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With compassion,

​Valerie