We’re With You Every Step of The Way
Should Something Happen is an informational Family Registry that addresses a personal and private concern we will all face one day.
PrePlanning
Plan effectively for the future when we consider what to do upon losing a loved one.
Arrangements
Understand what needs to be done in the first 1-3 days when we’ve lost a family member.
Organization
Where are important personal documents? What did my loved one want done, or how are certain issues to be handled?
Peace of Mind
Clearly establishing your wishes with privacy, dignity, and peace of mind without feeling uncomfortable.
Rest Assured
When the time comes, you can direct your love, care, and attention where it belongs-on the rest of your family.
Learn More About Why We Exist
The need for a Family Registry, such as the one provided by Should Something Happen, stems from the critical importance of ensuring that your loved ones have access to essential information and instructions to handle your affairs effectively in the event of your passing.
Having a comprehensive document that consolidates all vital information is crucial for several reasons:
Ease of Access:
A Family Registry centralizes important documents and instructions in one accessible location. This saves your family members from the daunting task of searching through various files, drawers, or digital folders to gather necessary information during an already emotionally challenging time.
Legal and Financial Preparedness:
Your Should Something Happen Family Registry can include details about bank accounts, investment portfolios, debts, and liabilities. This information is vital for your family to navigate the legal and financial aspects of your estate, ensuring that assets are properly managed and debts are settled according to your wishes.
Clarity and Organization:
By compiling essential documents, such as legal paperwork, financial records, insurance policies, wills, and medical directives, a Family Registry ensures that your wishes are clearly communicated and understood by your family members. This helps prevent misunderstandings or disputes regarding your intentions.
Peace of Mind:
Creating a Family Registry offers you the assurance that your loved ones will be equipped with the necessary tools to manage your affairs efficiently and honor your legacy with dignity. It provides peace of mind knowing that your wishes will be respected and executed as intended.
Timely Decision-Making:
During times of loss, decisions often need to be made swiftly. Having all pertinent information readily available in a Family Registry empowers your loved ones to make informed decisions promptly, whether it involves funeral arrangements, handling financial matters, or executing your estate plan.
Proactive Step:
In essence, a Family Registry with Should Something Happen, serves as a comprehensive guidebook for your loved ones, offering practical assistance and guidance during a time of emotional upheaval. It is a proactive step towards ensuring that your final wishes are carried out smoothly and that your family members are supported through the process of handling your affairs.
A Different Kind of Family Registry
Should Something Happen is a Family Registry that addresses a personal and private concern we will all face one day. Our aim is to help you plan effectively for the future when we consider what to do upon losing a loved one. Should Something Happen takes you by the hand in a gentle way, to know, and understand what needs to be done in the first 1-3 days when we’ve lost a family member. Today, more than ever, this is a very important guide for you as you plan to share with your family in a confidential, loving, and private way what all of your wishes and directions should be.
It is a fact of life that in our culture, death is not spoken about in terms of family planning for the most part. Many people feel that if we don’t talk about it, it is not going to happen. There is a tremendous sense of peace and responsibilities having been met by “getting one’s house in order” before the fact. It is never too early to take this important step. How often have families had to struggle with issues such as: Where are important personal documents? What did my loved one want done, or how are certain issues to be handled? Should Something Happen satisfies these and many other concerns which no longer need to burden a family at their hour of bereavement. When such a time comes, you are able to direct your love, care, and attention where it belongs-on the rest of your family. Real wisdom can be found in an act of good stewardship for our family and their future needs. The Bible says that King David prepared abundantly before his death, (I Chronicles 22:5b). Granted, we may not like talking about it, or calling a meeting of our immediate family to make these arrangements.
Should Something Happen exists to give you privacy, dignity, and peace of mind without feeling uncomfortable. This is a simple but important way to help you communicate your wishes to your loved ones.
Estate Planning and Family Directives
A family registry that encompasses all the important and vital details needed when a loved one passes can be an essential component of estate planning and family directives, both advanced and otherwise. Here’s how it relates to each:
Estate Planning:
- Organization: A comprehensive family registry helps in organizing all the pertinent information related to assets, liabilities, accounts, insurance policies, and other important documents essential for estate planning.
- Facilitating Probate Process: Having all the necessary information readily available can facilitate the probate process, making it easier for the executor or administrator to handle the estate according to the deceased’s wishes.
- Asset Distribution: It provides clarity on the deceased’s assets and their intended distribution, ensuring that the estate is distributed according to the estate plan, will, or trust.
Family Directives:
- Advanced Directives: A family registry can include advanced directives such as living wills, healthcare proxies, and durable power of attorney for healthcare. These documents outline the individual’s preferences regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care, ensuring that their wishes are known and followed.
- Communication: It serves as a communication tool for family members, ensuring that everyone is aware of the deceased’s wishes, directives, and important details regarding their estate, medical preferences, funeral arrangements, and other matters.
- Crisis Management: In times of crisis or emergency, having a family registry readily available can provide quick access to critical information, facilitating decision-making and ensuring that the family can effectively manage the situation.
Overall, a well-maintained family registry plays a crucial role in estate planning and family directives by centralizing important information, facilitating communication among family members, and ensuring that the deceased’s wishes are respected and carried out effectively.
Let Us Lend a Helping Hand
* This website is dedicated to the life and legacy of Dr. Frederick Malcolm Rich, whose homegoing was the inspiration for Should Something Happen, a family registry.