Dear Savvy Senior, What kinds of legal documents are suggested for end-of-life plans? I would like to get my affairs in order before it’s too late. Getting Old

Dear Getting,
Every adult – especially seniors – should have at least four essential legal documents to protect them and their family. These documents will make sure your wishes regarding your estate are legal and clear, and will help minimize any conflicts and confusion with your family and your health care providers if you become seriously illness or when you die. Here are the key documents you need, along with some tips to help you create them.
A Will: This document lets you spell out your wishes of how you’d like your property and assets distributed after you die, whether it’s to family, friends or a charity. It also allows you to designate an executor to ensure your wishes are carried out, and allows you to name guardians if you have minor or dependent children.
In addition to a will, if you own real estate or have considerable assets, another option you may want to consider is a “revocable living trust.” This functions like a will but allows your estate to avoid the time and expense of probate (the public legal process that examines your estate after you die) and helps ensure your estate’s privacy.
Durable Power of Attorney: This allows you to designate someone you trust to make financial, tax and legal decisions on your behalf if you lose your decision-making capacity.
Advanced Health Care Directive: This includes two documents that spell out your wishes regarding your end-of-life medical treatment. The two documents are a “living will” which tells your doctor what kind of care you want to receive if you become incapacitated, and a “health care power of attorney” which names a person you authorize to make medical decisions on your behalf if you become unable to.
Do-It-Yourself
If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are several good do-it-yourself guides that can help you create all these documents for very little money.
For creating a will, a top resource is the Quicken WillMaker Plus 2015 software (available at nolo.com) that costs $50, works with Windows personal computers and is valid in every state except Louisiana. If you use a Mac, nolo.com offers an online will maker for $35.
Or, if you only need to create an advance directive you can do it for free at caringinfo.org (or call 800-658-8898), where you can get state-specific forms with instructions. Or for only $5, an even better tool is the Five Wishes document (agingwithdignity.org, 888-594-7437), which is valid in 42 states and will help you create a customized advance directive.
Get Help
If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases – especially when writing a will or living trust – which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
Costs will vary depending on where you reside, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will, or $1,200 to $5,000 for a living trust.
The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (actec.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see findlegalhelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Don Narcomey, local artist, is currently working on the fourth installment of crucifixes he makes for the St. Anthony Healthplex facilities.
Each facility has 12 emergency rooms, with each one containing a custom built niche to house and light his beautiful crucifixes.
Narcomey is a talented artist using a variety of woods and other materials for his works and uses special care when searching for the right pieces. “For the Christ figure, I go out into the woods or rummage through torn out shrubbery and search for branches that have a “pose” that suggests a Christ figure.”  Finding the perfect material for his work is just the start, as he later returns to his studio to cut, grind, and carve these figures to take on a life of their own.
Narcomey’s newest creations will be displayed at the new St. Anthony Healthplex North location located on North Western Avenue.  St. Anthony Healthplex North officially opened its doors the last week of February.

An east-central Oklahoma legislator has filed a measure that would allow Oklahoma car, truck, van and motorcycle owners to renew their motor vehicle registration for more than just one year.
House Bill 1091 by Rep. Donnie Condit, D-McAlester, was endorsed Thursday by the House Appropriations and Budget Committee, and earlier by its Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee. The bill has been placed on the legislative calendar for consideration by the full House sometime within the next two weeks.
HB 1091 provides that “at the owner’s discretion” he/she could renew a non-commercial motor vehicle’s registration annually, or for two years or three. The fees for multi-year registration “shall be equivalent to the total of fees that would otherwise be assessed … if the owner had elected to renew the registration on an annual basis,” the bill stipulates.
“I think there are some Oklahomans who, as a matter of convenience, would prefer to register their vehicles once every two or three years instead of every 12 months,” Condit explained.
While the option of multiple-year registrations might shift an indeterminate amount of revenue to another fiscal year, no change in total registration fees would occur, House staff concluded.
Almost 4,070,000 vehicles and trailers were registered with the Oklahoma Tax Commission in Fiscal Year 2014, generating $622.8 million, ledgers show. The vehicles included 2.96 million cars and pickups, nearly 151,000 farm trucks, more than 129,000 motorcycles, more than 16,000 motor homes, plus 72,500 travel trailers.

The Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA) joined 35 of its state peers this week in Washington, DC in a meeting hosted by the Assisted Living Federation of America to discuss strategic relationships that promote excellence in senior living throughout Oklahoma and the nation.
The group engaged in fruitful dialogue focused on credentialing, standards, and public policy in the senior living industry that enhance levels of care while creating consistent, meaningful regulatory and legislative reform. Oklahoma and its state partners agreed that some of their most pressing issues include addressing the increasing acuity of residents in senior living communities and current life safety codes. OKALA also looks forward to serving in a leadership role within the state to help unite senior advocacy groups on the state level.
“This meeting between ALFA and its state partners really shows the spirit of partnership and collaboration that will lead us all too even greater success,” said Oklahoma Assisted Living Association Executive Director, Melissa Holland.
Many seniors and their families turn to assisted living to have the necessary supports they need to continue caring for their loved ones. While providing excellent quality of care, it is quality of life that has made assisted living such a popular option. Seniors who were isolated in their own homes, without friends or purpose of life, thrive after moving into an assisted living community.
A 2013 poll shows that 94% of assisted living residents say they are satisfied or very satisfied with the overall quality of life in their community. Today, 99% of senior living residents say they feel safe or very safe in their community.
“There was strong recognition among the group that the senior living industry has changed since ALFA was founded 25 years ago,” ALFA President and CEO James Balda said. “The senior living industry is successful when we’re successful together. This meeting helped us all move the discussion forward so that our new efforts in branding, credentialing and standards can be well integrated with the efforts we’ve seen by our state partners.”
Assisted living is home for our residents and typically 50% less expensive than a skilled nursing facility. Over 80% of senior living residents pay from their own private resources. There are many assisted living options available at various price points including large or small, urban or rural, high-rise or single level.

The Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA) is dedicated to the preservation of dignity and choice for older Oklahomans and to the quality of their care in the senior living setting. For over 18 years OKALA has been providing educational opportunities including an administrator certification course; representation with state department of health; and legislative advocacy for Assisted Living communities and those who provide services to them. For more information visit www.okala.org or on facebook.

In commemoration of the 800th anniversary of one of the most enduring symbols of liberty and the rule of law, the Oklahoma State Capitol will host the “Magna Carta: Enduring Legacy 1215-2015” exhibit from March 23 to April 5.
The event will be free and open to the public. The exhibit will be displayed in the Supreme Court Hallway on the second floor of the State Capitol.
The exhibit tells the story of the Magna Carta, which is widely regarded as one of the most important legal documents in the history of democracy.
“Bringing the incredible story of the Magna Carta to the halls of the people of Oklahoma’s government presents a unique opportunity to celebrate the document that makes our form of government possible,” Oklahoma Secretary of State Chris Benge said. “We are thrilled to host this exhibit so Oklahomans can learn about and appreciate the foundations of democracy as we know it today.”
The Magna Carta stands at the heart of English and American law and has influenced the legal systems of many other democratic nations.
King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Carta in 1215. The document greatly reduced the power wielded by the King of England and allowed for the creation of a powerful Parliament. It thus became the basis for English citizens’ rights.
The Magna Carta is therefore considered to be the founding document of English liberties and hence of American liberties. Because of the Magna Carta, the divine right of kings was superseded by government of and by the people and legal principles such as habeas corpus.
“There’s a direct link between the Magna Carta and our state government,” Benge said.
The Library of Congress and the American Bar Association developed the traveling educational exhibit to raise awareness about the Magna Carta’s enduring legacy. The traveling exhibit, displayed on freestanding banners with images of priceless Magna Carta-related items, complements the Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor exhibition previously on display at the Library of Congress.
The traveling exhibit is brought at no cost to the state through partnerships with the Library of Congress, American Bar Association and the Federalist Society. The state’s hosts are the Oklahoma Legislature, Secretary of State Chris Benge, the Oklahoma Arts Council, and the state Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

By Greg Schwem

Upon my death, please continue to ‘like’ me

My immediate family huddled on a couch in the funeral home’s parlor room. My wife and I held hands while my daughters stifled urges to check their cell phones. A box of tissues sat on the coffee table. None were needed. Not yet.
A kind looking man emerged from a small office. “Greetings, Mr. and Mrs. Schwem. Girls. I’m Herb Blansky, social media grief coordinator for Blansky & Sons. We specialize in assisting families with the social media accounts of a family member who has passed on. You specifically had questions about Facebook?”
I reached for a tissue. The mere thought of who would handle my eight-year collection of backyard barbecue photos, Kim Kardashian memes and ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE videos of dogs wearing sweaters after jumping into laundry baskets produced a lump in my throat. My wife gripped my hand tighter.
“As you know, Facebook recently added a legacy feature, authorizing someone to take over the account once its owner has passed.” Shifting his eyes between my wife and daughters he added, “Someone you trust. At Blansky & Sons, we can assist you with this process.”
“Like, don’t you just click one button at the bottom of your page?” my eldest asked. “Why are we here?”
“Because I haven’t decided who my legacy contact should be,” I said. “Mr. Blansky, do you have a suggestion.”
“Well, it should be somebody familiar with the nuances of posting, responding, wall updates, friend acceptance, group messaging, commenting, ‘liking,’ and the Facebook mobile app.”
“That counts me out,” my wife said.
“She never got into Facebook,” I informed Blansky.
“Girls, how about you?” Blansky asked, looking at my daughters. “Keep in mind it’s a big responsibility.”
“We’re no longer on Facebook,” my youngest said. “We use Instagram.”
“Yeah, we wouldn’t be caught dead using Facebook,” her sister replied. “Wait, that didn’t come out right. Sorry, Dad.”
“What do we do?” I asked Blansky.
“This is an unusual situation,” he replied. “Have you considered a Facebook power of attorney?”
“I’m not mentally incapacitated,” I said defensively. “I just want my Facebook account to live on when I’m gone. I enjoy steak every Sunday and I ALWAYS post a photo before I consume it. Is it wrong to have somebody continue posting photos of my favorite meals? In my memory?”
“Yes,” my daughters said in unison.
“Not at all,” Blansky said.
“And what if I pass before the next presidential election,” I said, reaching for another tissue, “who is going to post disparaging comments about GOP candidates?”
“All valid questions,” he said. “Obviously, Mr. Schwem, your Facebook account is very important to you. Have you considered having a ‘Celebration of Life’ for it?”
“Excuse me?”
Sliding a brochure across the table, he said, “This is where Blansky & Sons can help.” “You invite people to our funeral home, and they spend time reading all your Facebook posts and looking at all the photos and videos you’ve uploaded. They can comment and ‘like’ until they feel a sense of closure.”
“What’s that going to cost?” my wife said.
“Right now we’re having a prepay special of $5,475, including four hours of free Wi-Fi and up to a dozen iPads placed around the premises.”
“And then?”
“At the ceremony’s completion, an iPad of your choosing will be lovingly wrapped and handed to whomever you choose as your legacy contact. And we do sell iPads. Mr. Schwem, a man of your stature looks like you’d be most comfortable with our top of the line ‘Steve Jobs original.’ Note the cherry trim and the 128GB memory.”
“I think we have some decisions to make,” I said.
“I understand. Just remember, these prices won’t last forever,” Blansky said.
We rose to leave as Blansky produced a business card from his pocket.
“Call me any time,” he said. “And remember, at Blansky & Sons we’re here for your posthumous Twitter, LinkedIn, Tumblr and blogging needs as well.”

‘Really?” I said. “I think we’re going to need a few more appointments.”

(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad,” available at http://bit.ly/gregschwem. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.)

A Hughes County funeral home director turned himself after an investigation by the Oklahoma Insurance Department’s Anti-Fraud Unit. Donald Williamson is accused of embezzling almost $75,000 from 28 families who set up prepaid funeral trusts.
“We take crimes like this very seriously,” said Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. “People are very vulnerable when it comes to funeral planning. They need to be able to trust their funeral home workers. I commend the investigators of our Anti-Fraud Unit. They will continue to bring justice to Oklahoma consumers.”
Williamson owns Williamson-Spradlin Funeral Home in Wetumka. He admitted to investigators he accepted money for prepaid funeral trust accounts and deposited the money into a bank account for his funeral home from November 2011 to December 2014. By law, prepaid funeral trust account money should go into a separate trust account and not be used for any other purpose.
On Friday, officials from the Oklahoma Insurance Department will be available to meet with anyone who bought a prepaid funeral trust from the Williamson-Spradlin Funeral Home. Residents are asked to bring prepaid funeral trust paperwork to the City of Wetumka Council Board Room at 202 N. Main anytime between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Meetings are confidential.
“Our Anti-Fraud Unit worked closely with the Hughes County District Attorney’s office on this investigation. They have been very helpful to our case and aggressive in bringing Mr. Williamson to justice,” said Rick Wagnon, director of OID’s Anti-Fraud Unit. “We have seen cases like this before. In 2011, a Creek County funeral home director was charged with fraud after a similar investigation.”
Williamson will face felony counts of embezzlement and violations of the Prepaid Funeral Act.
The Anti-Fraud Unit is a commissioned law enforcement agency that conducts investigations of various white-collar crimes related to insurance fraud. Oklahomans can call to report fraud at 1-800-522-0071.