No, not talking about passports and visas (you should have already done such). Instead, talking about wills, power of attorney, and other paperwork you need to have in place before traveling, especially if you do any ‘adventure’ traveling. This isn’t adventure per se, thought it will be a good adventure Lord willing, but if anything goes wrong I want people to have what they need to help me and to know what I want done.
So, I’m having a new will done. I did the last one online; but, for reasons I’m not going to discuss in public, I am having a lawyer do the documents this time. That way they should be air-tight, and such that governments nor anyone else can stick an oar into.
In addition, I’m also updating my Power of Attorney for Healthcare and taking care of a few other documents so that if anything happens to me, especially while I am overseas, the people here will have access to anything and everything needed to take care of me, or to bury me. My only caveat is that I be given an Orthodox Christian funeral. If I were to die on the pilgrimage, I have left instructions to bury me there. I don’t see the need to bring me back here, even if the travel insurance covers it. By the way, this is the second formal written public notice of my intentions in that regard.
Depending on your circumstances, you need to have things worked out in all regards — health, estate, guardianships, etc. — before you head out. Especially if you are married and have children, you need the I’s crossed and the T’s dotted.
I will admit, the costs of such services has gone up a LOT since I last used a lawyer, but it is worth it to have things air tight. That said, feel free to hit the tip jar as that was a major and unbudgeted expense.
UPDATE: Not thrilled with the legal beasts, as they did not have it done last week as promised; there were too many difficulties with meeting this week which they assured me they could do; and, they insisted on all sorts of extra boilerplate instead of keeping it simple. So, a three page will became 22 pages, etc. I think I walked out with six separate documents when I wanted three; and, one copy of all documents was app. 3/4 inches thick. BTW, fair warning: never ask me for an honest opinion unless you really want it, as at one point when reviewing documents earlier this week when asked what I thought I responded that ‘it looks like the explosive release of a year’s worth of legal constipation.’ No joke, I actually did say that to them. At least it is done. Remember: whatever you plan for never happens, so plan for the worst, pray for the best, and accept what comes.
Please check out my Winter 26 Bleg!
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, and to start a truly new life, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. There is also the Amazon Wish List in the Bard’s Jar. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.