FULLTIMERS, WILLS, POAs, KIDS ???

[OpaRon]

We are looking for any advice regarding the legal problems regarding wills and powers of attorney, etc. Currently we are Oregon residents, but are only there a few months to visit kids and grandkids. Rest of the time we are with our other kids, grand kids and great grand kids in Flowery Branch, GA and Tallahassee, FL. What happens if we die in Texas with a will executed in Oregon but with a son as executor who lives in Georgia? Is there an "easy button" answer to these kind of questions? Is there any kind of clearing house for these kinds of legal questions? How about Escapees in Livingston, TX?

What have some of you long-time fulltimers done?

Thanks. OpaRon

[OpaRon]

We are looking for any advice regarding the legal problems regarding wills and powers of attorney, etc. Currently we are Oregon residents, but are only there a few months to visit kids and grandkids. Rest of the time we are with our other kids, grand kids and great grand kids in Flowery Branch, GA and Tallahassee, FL. What happens if we die in Texas with a will executed in Oregon but with a son as executor who lives in Georgia? Is there an "easy button" answer to these kind of questions? Is there any kind of clearing house for these kinds of legal questions? How about Escapees in Livingston, TX?

What have some of you long-time fulltimers done?

Thanks. OpaRon

[Nick Russell]

Your will, power of attorney, etc should be drawn up in the state where you are a resident. Then (hopefully) your wishes will be followed no matter where you are at time of an accident or death.

Your executor does not have to be a resident of the state where you are legally domociled and where your will, etc were created.

[K-Star]

We too are getting ready to go fulltime. I recently read that you should keep a copy POA and living will not only in your rig, but the TV also (if you have a MH, then a copy in the toad too).

We plan on reloacting out of NJ when we do go fulltime and our Will, POA/LW have been drwan up for sometime. I didn't think there would be a need to draw up new ones. No?

[OpaRon]

I think I'd draw up new wills, POAs, and Living Wills with some acknowledgment that you are now full-timing, just to make sure that no one thinks you've "lost your marbles" by living in your RV. :&gt One of my sons recently used LegalZoom.com to do several legal documents, including wills, and incorporation, etc. He was quite satisfied with the service and it was tons cheaper than using an attorney. Since our situation is pretty simple - not a lot of money or land - I think I'll use LegalZoom.com too.

[LindaH]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by K-Star:
We plan on reloacting out of NJ when we do go fulltime and our Will, POA/LW have been drwan up for sometime. I didn't think there would be a need to draw up new ones. No? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
If you change states of domicile you'll want an attorney in your NEW state of domicile to at least look over your current documents to see if they need to have any changes made to reflect the laws of your new state.

[Scottiemom]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">If you change states of domicile you'll want an attorney in your NEW state of domicile to at least look over your current documents to see if they need to have any changes made to reflect the laws of your new state. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is correct. Your legal docs should be legal for your state of domicile. Normally it doesn't mean re-doing everything. We drew up our trust and everything else in Indiana when we lived there. Since we have rental properties there, it is quite extensive. Last summer we went to South Dakota where we have been residents since 2005 and consulted with a lawyer. There were some changes that had to be made as SD does some POA's differently. Our attorney was a beautiful smart 12-year old. . . well maybe a little older, but very knowledgeable. It cost us $600 for the changeover to make everything legal in SD, which she said was necessary to avoid problems and to have everything executed according to our wishes.

We had called ahead and made an appointment, then sent a copy of everything from our trust. She had read through it, made notes, and was ready for our questions when we arrived. Extremely professional outfit.

Dale

[bjbkkb]

Full-timing is a little bit down the road but I figure thinking about it well ahead will pay off. Where do full-timers keep their documents? Fireproof safe? Safe deposit box?

[Route 66]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Where do full-timers keep their documents? Fireproof safe? Safe deposit box? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

The originals are back home in a safe deposit box, to which my daughter has a key.

She also has POA.

[Tom N]

My attorney has copies of everything.

-Tom