A family death, divorce or dispute should be among the reminders to review who gets what in your will.

In some cases, it may require more than a simple call to your attorney to add or delete a person’s name on your list of beneficiaries.

Some additional legal paperwork may be needed to make beneficiary changes to your insurance policies, individual retirement account, 401(k), pension, stock portfolio, bank accounts, or other assets.

Such a simple step can avoid heartbreak and haranguing after your death should a disowned child or disgruntled ex-partner or divorced husband or wife decide to challenge and contest your wishes.

You should make a habit of reviewing your estate plan every handful of years because tax laws change as does the amount of your assets. So does your family structure as children marry.

Mature Life Features

Copyright 2010

Selling Your Stuff Becomes More Than a Hobby

With the growing popularity of the on-the-road-appraisal television show, more folks are poring

over their overstuffed garages, attics, basements and backyards to see what they can sell for more

than a few bucks.

The value of art and antiques are not necessarily only in the eye of the owner. Get a qualified

appraiser to give you a quote on that medieval sword or old wood-framed landscape painting or

hallway desk with sticking drawers.

This type of item that qualifies for more-than-junk status can be sold at auctions, but you have to

make sure you are made aware of all the fees. Antique dealers may buy your piece outright or sell

it for you for a percentage of the sale price.

There's also the Internet, of course, but you'll have to do all the work: taking photos of the

articles, writing a description, handling offers, making sure you get paid, and shipping the piece.

If it's just "junque," you can donate it to local non-profit organizations, or set aside some

weekend for your own garage sale. In these cases, you might talk with your neighbors to

determine whether there are enough of you to organize a neighborhood flea-market on a

weekend.

Mature Life Features

Copyright 2010

Parenting Class

A class on basic parenting will be hosted by the city of Farmington for anyone ages 18 and older. The classes run Nov 2-Dec 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Registration begins Oct 29 and will continue until the class is full.