Customer Reviews

Before It's Too Late - Don't Leave Your Loved Ones Unprepared

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

After using this "journal" or "inventory" for my aging parents, I completed a copy with my family's information. I found it to be very comprehensive and easy to use. It covers financial topics, as you would expect, but also covers information that could easily be overlooked such as detailed funeral decisions, care of pets, hidden valuables in the residence....even who has sets of keys to the house. If you are looking for a way to document all the important information your family would need in the event of your or a loved ones death, this is just the publication.

While this is a very well organized collection of FORMS forcompletion by the reader, I was disappointed to find that this bookoffers no advice or suggestions. I would suggest as an alternative, "Everything Your Heirs Need to Know" by Davis Magee and John Ventura, also available at Amazon.com. This contains basically the same forms, plus - it has addditional information regarding many of the topics. END

The "Before It's Too Late..." workbook is excellent. It's the easiest method I've seen to start the process of documenting important information your family needs if you are incapacitated or in the event of your death. The death of my mother not too long ago was stressful for all the family, but the lack of information added to the difficulty. We didn't even know if she had a safe deposit box. We weren't absolutely sure what type of funeral service she would have preferred. We did the best we could with locating paperwork and making decisions, but many times we asked "well, is that what Mom would have wanted us to do?" or "where do you suppose she put that?" A lot more information is needed by the family than what you find in a will or similar documents.
This workbook is low-tech (no complicated software to load, etc.) -- just a workbook to fill in and change as time goes on. I was amazed at the thoroughness of the topics covered--things I'd never thought about. You don't just fill in the blanks; the questions force you to think about your preferences. Although I'd had a will for years, the process of filling in the workbook motivated me to review it and consider about just what information others might need after I'm gone.
I've seen a number of similar products offered, and I'm sure they're fine, but the "Before It's Too Late..." workbook is just outstanding. It's economical, it's easy to use, and I think it's a real gift to your family.

I strongly reccomend this book. I am a newly divorced mother of 2 young children who was shown "Before It's Too Late" by a friend. I realized that I needed to write down my own information now that I'm on my own again. My children are too young to serve as resource persons were I to die. In addition my family members live out of state. I feel secure knowing that this book, when completed, will help with the transition my children will be facing.

What a Godsend. Being a widow myself with a husband with no will. I didn't want my loved ones to have to deal with what I did. This was what I needed. I couldn't find any information that wasn't covered in this book. If you worry about what your loved ones might have to go through, or if you want your parent or loved one to have their wishes met. This workbook does it. What a relief.

If you love your family, you will want to have information handy for them in the event of your death. How many credit cards do you have? Where is your bank account? Do you have an IRA? Investments? Will? Living Will? They will need all kinds of information. Be kind to them and use the book which will take some of the burden from them when you die.

before the death of a loved one makes you forget your own name. I've got 5 of these: parents, in-laws and as executor for a friend. Three of them have been used when I got 'that call'.

Since each state's laws are different, it would be impossible to be comprehensive and give you all legal and financial options. While one reviewer is correct - it will not give advice or answer questions - this workbook WILL prod you with questions, organize your information, research, notes, etc. into one easy place. In those moments when you can't put two coherent sentences together, you can point to the book. If it had pockets to store copies of documents, I would give this 5 stars. That is the ONLY drawback.

While it's difficult to face our mortality, going thru this pre-planning process is an act of love.

We are retired and for years have been keeping a loose-leaf notebook of instructions for our adult children to help them deal with our estate. One quick look through Before it's Too Late showed us there were a number of important things we'd neglected to address. The book is extremely well organized, thorough and easy to fill out. From the location of important papers and keys to funeral arrangements and family pets, the workbook is comprehensive. We are buying copies for our siblings as well as our adult children.

During the past few years, my wife and I lost our parents, 3 by death and 1 by alzheimer's disease. How we wish we would have had a resource such as this at that time. We did not realize the amount of time it would take us to locate and sort all the documents related to our parents lives. We will not leave our children in the same predicament. We consider ourselves well organized, but this book showed us that we really are not. With this book, it took us only a few hours during the past few weeks to record a library of our financial and personal lives to give to our family. This book makes it concise and easy. Highly recommend this great organizational book to any one of any age. Buy it, complete it now and give it to your kids. - "Before It's Too Late"!

FINALLY, the most useful tool amidst all my important documents. All in one place. I can now travel wherever with a peace of mind I never had before. Whatever happens, my loved one will be able to find everything under one "roof".