PAIL February Monthly Theme: Planning

With my to do list that keeps getting longer and not much accomplished, I am proud to say I have checked this important item(s) off my list.  A Living Will and Power of Attorney.  Both, very important documents to have when you have child(ren).  I started the process (making phone call to our company's attorney) in January 2012.   He immediately got us the documents and they needed to be signed and notarized.  Nothing like procrastination- we went and did this about 10 days before Brett arrived!  But I am happy to say it's off my to do list:)

1.  Do you have a will? When did you draw it up and what sorts of things did you decide on with regard to guardianship? (Feel free to elaborate on what factors made various people in your life “eligible.”)

When deciding our will, it was simple.  In fact, it was charged as a "simple will."  That meant... if I die, Emar gets everything.  If Emar dies, I get everything.  If we both die, Brett will go to my brother and sister in law.  Emar and I were chosen to have guardianship of their children too if they pass.  It was actually an easy choice for me us.   Our other option was with Emar's sister and brother in law but they have made it clear they wanted one kid and it just felt right with my brother over his sister.  Don't get me wrong, she would do anything in the world for Brett and is a great Aunt but I have always thought of my brother and sister in law as the ones that would raise my children if something happened to us.

2.  Where do you live? Are you in a house you hope to stay in for years? A city you’re desperate to escape? Are you farther than you’d like to be from family (or, ahem, too close for comfort)?

We live in a not to small and not to big city/town and we really like it here.  It's not far from my parents and even closer to my brother and his family.  Emar's family (parents and sister's family) live here also.  I am fortunate to have great in laws.  I truly enjoy hanging out with them.  Now his other brother and family (live in Florida), that's another story:)  As far as our house, I don't see us being here forever but don't know when we would move.  Not sure we would be able to sell and break even in this economy right now. We are comfortable in our 1st little home.

3.  Does the size of your world match your family’s needs (ie, do you need a bigger car or a house with an additional bedroom if you have another child)?

I think the size of our world matches our family's needs at the moment.  Our house is a 1500 sq ft 3 bed 2 bath ranch.   If  When we have another child, we will be at full occupancy (sorry I work for hotels).  We have overnight guests about 2-3 times a year so we would get them hotel rooms. We have a minivan already.  It's kind of funny though, we got the minivan 4 years ago anticipating having a child soon (ha! jokes was on us). Plus, we had 2 black labs and it made traveling very nice.  We went to Kansas City (3 hours away) this weekend.  I was shocked that 2 adults, 1 8 1/2 month old and 1 black lab practically filled up the entire van. 

4.  Do you have other safety nets in place, like life insurance?

We have $100,000 each on us right now through my work.  I actually got quotes last year (prior to having Brett)  but never decided on how much and what type to get.  
Thanks for the reminder (PAIL)  to get on this!