incapacitated and alone

[desert_sailing]

About to go live and have started to fixate on what happens to my rig if something happens to me while in the wilds.
I have no spouse and no chilrens. 
My family is not in the least interested in vanlife and I know if my rig ends up in a tow yard they certainly wouldn't make the effort to retrieve it.

I cringe at thinking some tow yard would get a great score off my misfortune.

The only person I know who gives a shit is my friend helping with the build.
How do I create a legal basis for him to gain possession of my rig.
While he's a good friend it seems strange at this point to list him on my title/registration.

Should I have power of attorney documents drawn up that go into force at such an event? Seems like a big move considering he's just a friend. And while it's legal in Washington... I'm not interested in marrying him.

Really not sure how to secure my meager assets in such a worst case scenario.

How have the legally alone on the forum addressed this?

 

[abnorm]

HOWA

 

[Sofisintown]

No one knows what the future holds, and anxiety about the future will keep you in an endless loop of fear and 'what if's", indecision and backtracking.
I think the events of the past year have something to do with it.
Forced isolation does things to people.

If it makes you feel better, draw a handwritten will, and give your possessions to someone you trust, or leave them to HOWA, they will make sure someone deserving gets it.

Many of us here are alone by choice, and often that's not a bad thing.
It is also quite possible that you will have more friends in the future than you know what to do with them.

Live your life like you have another 50 years ahead, have targets, and make plans and execute them.
Cheers!

 

[abnorm]

Bottom of the page............request info:

https://homesonwheelsalliance.org/donate/

 

[mattvei]

create a living trust or personal property trust. Great resource nolo.com or your local county law library. Title the vehicle in your trust. When you pass, your successor trustee can convey the vehicle to your friend or HOWA or whomever you designate. No courts, no probate, no lawyer fees. Clean. More your time to research than money.

 

[Scott3569]

Hey, So I am sort of in the same vote.. Sort of..

the same as far a s being a lone, no wife no kids..

I am 52, in fair health..

would love to be in better health and I soon will be, I am just focused on my build at the moment.

Now to the root of your question, Unless a doctor has given you a death sentence, Don't worry about it. the beautiful thing about this life, is you can live in the moment..

As far as what happens to your belongings if you die out there... Do you think you going to care about it when your dead?

Sorry if I sound harsh, not trying to be... You should not be worried about these things..

when I go imagine what every belongings I have will go to the dump, maybe actioned off if it is worth anything.. to pay my debt..

 

[desert_sailing]

thanks for taking the time to comment everyone.

I probably should have been a little more clear.
By incapacitated I'm referring to.. as not dead..lol.. rather not able.. like in a hospital for a bit.. stroke or something...end up in a care facility.. or on the funny farm... incapacitated..not dead..lol.

Fixated is also a bit harsh... I meant a high priority task that needs my attention... not obsessed where I'm losing sleep and am worrying over my demise..

Not long ago one of our fellow members ( nature lover) had a serious medical issue that separated him from his home for some time.
I'm thinking of those situations where you have been forced from your home and want to prevent it from being "stole" during recovery.

many folks here are on limited resources.. myself included. Not sure exactly how much a tow yard charges per day... but it could get costly in such an event.
50 bux a day in a tow yard for a month???..

While at a campsite you have a serious hiking accident...you get shipped to the nearest suitable medical facility which could be quite far away and your home gets towed.
Jack fell down and broke his crown.
That is a scenario I'm envisioning not a eulogy... :/

I don't believe a tow yard will release a vehicle to anyone other than the titled/ registered owner.
Just curious how other solo folks covered that base... if it's even something single people are considering.

Unlike sticks and bricks our mobile homes are unlikely to still be where we left it when we are afk for a period.

I'm still fairly young and gregarious. I am far more likely to be climbing a rock face and mtn biking than doing crosswords and macrame.

Glad I won't have a pet in such a situation. Can't imagine having a pet that gets put down by a shelter because the owner didn't prepare for the unique situations we as nomads face.

Your rig gets towed your animal goes to the shelter and your lying in a hospital bed hoping to save at least one of them.
If your solo, good luck saving either if you have no plan.

 

[WanderingRose]

I believe that we should do what we can to prepare for our unexpected death or incapacitation, then just let go of it.

I have an Emergency button on my cell phone that is accessed from the Lock Screen and will simultaneously call 911 and alert my oldest child that I have called 911.

Make a written plan, leave it where it can be found, then just remember that all you can do is all you can do.

As I have gotten older, I work diligently on not leaving a lot of loose ends in the event of an abrupt incapacitation and death.

What exactly to do varies according to personal circumstance, but there are lots of options out there, and you might consult with an attorney or even AARP.

Donating a rig to HOWA seems an excellent idea.

 

[user 30781]

desert_sailing, would your friend retrieve your rig and hold it for you if something happened?

 

[G0ldengirl68]

[quote pid='537341' dateline='1621658666']

How have the legally alone on the forum addressed this?
[/quote]

I'm glad you brought this up, I have no one to leave my truck to and I would leave it to the same people that donated a Van to a lady that didn't have anything, or I think it was some sort of "drawing", not sure.  Abnorm's reply about talking to HOWA is a good idea I think.  I think I have this right, that stands for Homes on Wheel Association??  If I'm wrong, there's someone to correct me I'm sure

 

[desert_sailing]

desert_sailing, would your friend retrieve your rig and hold it for you if something happened?

That is exactly  what I'm counting on. I mentioned it to him and I know he would travel some distance to retrieve it.
Given however that a tow yard won't release the vehicle to non titled/ registered person's is my problem. I can't imagine putting him on the title at this time due to liability but after the fact is kinda too late. lol.. feels like a catch 22

 

[Treknik]

Check with the department of motor vehicles (DMV) in the state your vehicle is registered. In many states you can easily setup a Transfer on Death (TOD). It is like a beneficiary for your vehicle. You fill out a form at the DMV.  It allows a much easier title transfer on your death without requiring the beneficiary to go through probate.

Here is a NOLO link that describes the process:
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/naming-tod-beneficiary.html

 

[user 30781]

I was thinking about a situation here in town (Wenatchee Valley). There was someone living in an
old camper who also had a small, older compact car. This person was a hoarder. They would
pick a site somewhere not in downtown, park their rigs a little bit apart and fill up the space
betweeen the two rigs with their stuff. Finally it would get so bad the city would step in.

The owner went off to jail for a short period of time but in the FB post by the police dept
they said they were keeping all his belongings including his rigs safe for him and he would get
them back when he was released. I'm pretty sure they didn't put his rigs in impound where
he'd have to pay to get them back.

I would hope if something happened to a nomad, say an unexpected hospital stay or something, that
they wouldn't just tow their rig and then auction it off for profit. I would hope they'd keep it
safe for you until you could retrieve it.

I don't know, it's definitely something to think about and try to make plans for.

 

[Cousin_Eddie]

 

[maki2]

talk to your insurance agent to see what possibilities there are for arranging and covering the cost of longer term storage of the vehicle on your behalf if you become incapacitated away from your residential home address for a while.

 

[Scott3569]

Ok, so if you are simply talking about falling ill and landing in the hospital, there are ways you can plans for this..

And here is what I would do, where ever I am I would contact Local authorities, tell them your plans, also have a solution prepared for your vehicle..

I would have a difficult time believing that in an emergency situation, that the local authorities would not help out, is it something they can do on a daily basis absolutely not. However, part of their job description is to serve the Public..

Serving the public does not always need to include Law enforcement.. many park ranger are helpful

I remember growing up as a child, my dad ( park ranger) would allow hikers camp up in our yard, there is a trail very close to our house that is used very often..

All of that said, I sort of think you are putting the cart before the horse.. We can not predict the future.. and most of the time any plans that we make to try and solve situations that we THINK might happen always ends in failure anyway..

Would setting something up with your friend be a good idea, absolutely, gives you a security blanket. Which is something I would not have..

 

[LERCA]

What Sofi and Matt said.

 

[user 30781]

Write a letter up, explaining that this is what you need to have happen if you ever happen to become
incapacitated, put it in an envelope with To Whom It May Concern/Law Enforcement/Medics/Forestry
on it and keep it in a visible place in your vehicle maybe. Put a note in with your ID in your wallet too.

 

[desert_sailing]

you are putting the cart before the horse.

, gives you a security blanket. Which is something I would not have.
,...,........................................

and yet hundreds of millions of people have health insurance.

I see this as taking care of my OWN "mess" instead of needing a security blanket aka crutch. Passing the buck to others is one of the biggest problems in this country... too many people leaving their issues for others to deal with.

I assumed there would be conscientious solo person's here that had prepared for wiping their own @$$ "just in case".

That's a great suggestion Maki about contacting my insurance regarding long term storage and I'll be reaching out to them on Monday.

I will also reach out to a friend that is a retired attorney. I have a feeling a power of attorney situation that goes into effect when certain criteria are meet is probably the answer.

I will post back what is suggested to me.

I am certainly not unique in being completely solo doing the vanlife... I just can't imagine everyone who is solo has no plan.

thanks again for the input everyone.

 

[tx2sturgis]

You might want to register your van in a state that has automatic 'transfer on death' (TOD) or 'designated beneficiary' laws...

Or you can get with a lawyer and have this friend designated as your trustee with power of attorney.

Here is a list of states with TOD:

https://www.alllaw.com/articles/nolo/wills-trusts/tod-claim-vehicle.html