One of the hottest stories this year is the controversy of Dan Gasby husband of model, author and entreprenuer B.Smith. Outrage stems from Dan Gasby's daily blog about B.Smith's public battle with Alzheimer's. B Smith's husband and former business partner posted online about his new girlfriend who sometimes lives in their home and interacts with his ailing wife with Alzheimer's. People are outraged that the husband and now caretaker of B. Smith would move in a girlfriend when still married to a wife whose memory resets daily and she can no longer provide consent. Dan Gasby states. “Most people don't have a will...People think death is almost optional and they don't plan for it. Everyone is temporarily abled ...because you're going to have some sort of disease either in your family or yourself, and someone is going to have to take care of you.”
Did B. Smith Consent to Dan Gasby Having a Companion in Her Estate Planning?
Do the vows, til death do you part only apply to physical death, or a loss of the person through memory loss from terrible diseases like Alzheimer's? What about the vows, in sickness and in health in terms of estate planning? Dan Gasby has been under fire because people question whether B. Smith would have wanted him to move on and have another woman living in her home. Were B. Smith's desires spoken and understood between the two of them before she lost her memory to Alzheimer's disease? Were her sentiments spoken in her estate planning process?
While a will and trust may not make your desires for a future relationship clear, just the process of creating a will and trust opens the discussion for uncomfortable topics in which answers to these kind of tough questions may emerge. However, outlining use of your assets and how you would like to be cared for in the event of physical or mental incapacitation is certainly something you can state in writing in your will and trust. Many will prepare for their passing, but what about disability or chronic illness? No matter what side you're on of the B. Smith and Dan Gasby controversy, its brought the topic of estate planning to the forefront and has America asking itself, are you prepared?
Its tough to face but Dan Gasby is correct in that death is inevitable, stating that of those over age 85, one in three may get Alzheimer's and one in two if you're African-American. Even at younger ages, there's no better way to help prepare yourself and your loved ones than by creating a will and trust. If you live in Northern California and are looking for a Roseville estate planning attorney, then the Law Offices of Richard W. McGinnis can help you establish a will and trust in Roseville. Estate planning helps you sort out these difficult topics with ease and prepare you for the “what ifs” in life. Richard McGinnis can guide you step-by-step and help you create a plan that will give you peace of mind about your future.
For a free estate planning consultation for a will in trust in Roseville, call The Law Offices of Richard W. McGinnis at (916) 784-6377.