incapacitated and alone

[seak]

Desert_Sailing, it sounds like you want your friend to be able to retrieve and store your van in case you are incapacitated. I am not an attorney, but it sounds like what you want is a limited power of attorney naming your friend as your agent for this contingency.

Here's a link to the definition of the term, limited power of attorney.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/limited_power_of_attorney

 

[desert_sailing]

Thank u for understanding and providing the clear  answer!
I was unaware of the different levels of POA and this is exactly it.
Hopefully others who are legally alone find this useful as well... sucks to not have a back up for when things get sketch.

With the attorney fees I'll save, lunch is on me.

 

[Scott3569]

I am right there with you trust me.. I have 3 brothers but none of us talk or even try to do anything for each other, pretty sad if you ask me.. I have tried to communicate with them on several occasions. Anyway, I am hoping to have someone eventually that I can trust, maybe a friend here or else where.. 
But, as I have gotten older, I have found it to be more difficult to trust the intentions of many people I end up meeting.. and that makes it even more difficult

 

[vanbrat]

I have family that would do this stuff for me..... we are not full timers, but even if I was, that is not what I would want them to do. They have full lives and are busy guys. They have stepped up to help other family members who needed it and are good solid rocks. But again I don't want to put this on them if I can help it. If I can find a way to make sure things where able to be taken care of why won't I? I have not thought of what to do if we are 1000 miles from home and get hit by a nasty issue. But now we will have that talk.

Mom got REALLY sick and was in hospital for a week and son went and got her dogs and helped get them in a RV park and then his home for recovery. And then my home for long term recovery. But it is scary to think what would have happened if they had been farther then they where.
As they are both in their mid 80's they know it is time to think about that. They would have found a way, but they would have had to burn through 90% of their savings.

I agree it is a good thing to plan for this stuff. Better to be prepared for the worst and not need it, then to have the worst happen and not be ready. I know I will be able to relax more if we can come up with a plan.
Thank you for the reminder.
And no I don't fixate on this type of stuff, but yea we have insurance and med records and such with us for both of us and for the dog just incase.
Time to write those letters for our wallets.

 

[WanderingRose]

My husband died unexpectedly 900 miles from home, while we were traveling.

I had help offered to me at the hospital by a chaplain I had asked come to pray for him in the ICU, who provided a place to stay for our kids and emotional support for us all until he died.

My son flew out and brought the dog home in a rental car.

After my husband died, I then drove our ClassB home.

Stuff happens.

Do what you can to prepare, but when things happen quickly, you will ultimately just wing it.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

You cannot be the first one to ask this question.  I would research organizations for travelers:  Escapees, Sam's Club, AAA, etc.  They should at least have recommendations if not programs to help.

 

[Morgana]

In addition to the power of attorney (or whatever solution you choose), is there someplace (even just a card in your wallet) where you can list this friend as one of your emergency contacts?
Also, do you think your friend would easily be able to cover the expense of retrieving/storing your rig, and if not, are you able to set a little money aside for this just in case?
This might be a good occasion to toot the horn about the importance of having a living will / advance directive. Even if you just put it in your wallet or glove compartment. You want to take care of your mortal shell at least as well as your vehicle, right?
I recently did mine, because my doctor finally nagged me enough. I have to say I hated doing it, and some of the answers I came up with were different from what I always thought I'd say. But I feel more squared away now that it's done. And it feels more fair towards my emergency contact, too -- if I have trouble deciding some of these scenarios, I sure don't want them to have to.

 

[LERCA]

No, you should always have a copy of a will/trust left with an attorney.Believe it or not we still have the law that if you can’t find a copy of a will it is invalid and you will have to fight in court. If your things are not valuable and you don’t care what happens when you’re gone then don’t worry about it. But our lives change. Sometimes we get more money or meet someone we want to help. Life doesn’t stay the same. So for protection get an attorney and pay a little bit for their knowledge which will protect your estate in the end.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

No, you should always have a copy of a will/trust left with an attorney . . . 

An attorney is advisable if you have a large or complicated estate, but it is not necessary.
What is necessary is that your executor has a copy of your will and the person(s) that will be notified at your death.  Finding your attorney will be difficult (and expensive) for a probate court to do, especially if you die in a 'foreign' state.

To the original question: a power of attorney can cover taking care of your stuff in case your not able to do it yourself.  You will probably need an attorney to help setting that up.  And you will need to have money available to fund it.  Asking a friend to spend their money (that they may not have) to care for your stuff is a little much.

 

[WanderingRose]

Actually, you can download POA’s online for most if not all states, fill them out and sign with your designees in front of a notary public.

I had a medical and financial POA done this way after my husband died.

Cost me nothing.

If you don’t feel you can navigate it and are low income, Legal Aid may well be able to help.

 

[LERCA]

My neighbor had one of those do it yourself wills in his house. His second one leaving everything to his wife of 30 years was lost or disappeared. She left everything to her kids but because no attorney had a copy her kids got nothing. He was the original owner of a $20,000 house purchased in 1957 that sold for $1.2 million ( and that was because his sons were angry and dumped it, didn’t care, they live in Mississippi) Yeah welcome to Los Angeles but the point is you never know how your fortunes may change.
May depend on the state you’re living but a few hundred dollars attorney fees seems reasonable to me.

 

[WanderingRose]

Powers of Attorney are not wills, they give a designee the authority to act on your behalf if you become unable to do so.

I have a medical and a financial POA, giving my son the ability to handle financial matters and make medical decisions for me if my physician determines I no longer can.

A will is a different matter, and mine was done by an attorney, but I don’t believe they must be.

I did the POA’s a few months after my husband died suddenly, so as not to leave my children scrambling when it’s my time.

 

[NctryBen]

I’m basically putting most things in my kids names. It’s just stuff, good way to downsize. I also have a daughter and a sister I’m trying to decide which would be the better power of attorney person. My sister is more established and I believe she’ll outlive me by a long shot. Every “community “ I’m in whether it be neighbors at my home base, my paddling friends, etc... I have trusted friends. Trust is an earned thing and I take it pretty serious. But it’s good to have some of these things established with the most stable people in your life. I think we all are good at pulling stakes and moving on at will and many times could rub someone wrong. I’m guessing in time I’ll make similar acquaintances on the road and that will I think make things easier for whoever I have for poa having people to help in a long distance situation if something happens, which could work both ways.

 

[maki2]

You can appoint an alternate designated POA person if the first designee is unable to perform those duties.

 

[LERCA]

Thanks Rose for explaining the difference I wasn’t able. Power of Attorney POA is very limited and only in case of incapacity a will is a legal document in case of death. Or a living trust is better and you pick an executor (the person who follows your wishes and that person can also inherit) or if you have very little pick one trustee (inheritor). Your inheritor can sell your things and keep the profits. If you’re lucky enough to have a friend willing and able to do that you’re doing fine.
But I think Desert Sailing was thinking he wouldn’t have much when he’s gone but you have a great friend. I might use the bank as my executor. Depends if I trust anyone that much as I get older.