Legally Secure Your Financial Future

Problem:
Making plans for your future healthcare decisions, financial decisions, and estate planning are not things people like to talk about with family members. There is a large number of people who have not had end of life discussions with their loved ones so when difficult times come they do not know what their family member wants.

Response:
Legally Secure Your Financial Future was piloted in Monona County and then repeated in Crawford County. This program focuses on getting financial records in order, communicating with family members about living wills, durable power of attorney, and organ donation; also estate planning including trusts, property ownership, and succession of property. In both sessions ISUE staff and a local attorney presented.

Impact:
30 participants attended in Monona County and 10 in Crawford County. These 40 participants indicated they have updated their wills, completed advance directives (durable power of attorney & living will), discussed organ donation, and looked into their property ownership so they know how it will be transferred at their time of death. Comments from participants indicate they found the workshop very useful and that there was information they had not considered, or was new to them. Many participants had questions about trusts and how they worked. Some had trusts previously set up, some were considering setting up a trust, and one didn’t know anything previously about trusts.

Contact: 
Mary Snow
Family Resource Management Specialist
Cherokee County Extension
209 Centennial Dr. Ste A
Cherokee IA  51012
Phone 712-225-6196; Fax  712-225-3173
Email msnow@iastate.edu