Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:49 — 21.8MB)
This week Bob answers some listener questions about dealing with neighbors and gifting to relatives.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:49 — 21.8MB)
This week Bob answers some listener questions about dealing with neighbors and gifting to relatives.
You and the buyer have agreed on the price. She’s got the cash. You sign over the title certificate. It was a good car, but you’re getting a better one. All done – right? Six months later you get the notice. Your old car has been abandoned and towed. They want you to pay. And, don’t forget the parking tickets. What went wrong?
More than likely, you forgot to complete and file the Seller’s Report of Sale. When you sell a car, you must not only complete the required information on the title certificate (such as the odometer reading and contact information) and sign off on the title, but, here in Washington, you must also file the required Seller’s Report of Sale. You need to have the license plate number, date of sale, sale price, name and address of the buyer, and you should have the vehicle identification number to complete the report. You can easily file the report online by going to: https://fortress.wa.gov/dol/rosprod/. You can also report the sale in person at one of the vehicle licensing offices (where you buy license tabs). Be sure to keep a copy of what you file in case of a question in the future. If you file the report online you will be able to print a copy of the confirmation.
You can use the bill of sale form provided by the State of Washington (http://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/420065.pdf) to gather the important information that will be needed to complete the sale. This form does not transfer the title or serve as the Seller’s required report of sale.
Aside from the legal requirements when you sell the car, be sure you have the money in hand before you make the transfer. Be careful about checks, even cashier’s checks. And, don’t fall for the trap of taking a check for a larger amount and giving the buyer change (yes, this really happens). You may not know for several days or so that the check is no good. Cash is usually good (unless it’s counterfeit). Be smart and meet somewhere safe to handle the transaction. Your bank or the vehicle licensing office might make good places to meet.
What has been your experience when you have sold a car? Share your tips and pointers.
Remember Terri Schiavo from Florida? She was in a vegetative state and her family was fighting over whether to let her go. Her case dragged on and on. With all the publicity surrounding her case, you’d think that we would all have prepared a living will. If you are a Seinfeld fan, who can forget Kramer working up his living will? Remember the lawyer reading off a list of awful conditions and Kramer and Elaine deciding whether to pull the plug – ouch. So, where is your living will? Most of us have still not prepared a Health Care Directive (that’s the official name for a living will in Washington).
If you have been waiting for prices to drop, wait no more. You can go to the Washington State Living Will Registry at http://www.doh.wa.gov/livingwill/default.htm where you can download a living will form for free. Once you get to the main page, click on “How to Register” on the left. In Step 1, just click on Health Care Directive, print the form, carefully print your name and the other details, and you’ll have your very own living will. The hardest question you will have to answer is whether you do or do not want artificially provided nutrition and hydration (number 3 in the document). This is the Terri Schiavo issue. Think this over carefully, discuss it with your family and friends, and then do it. By the way, when you go to sign your living will, be sure that the two witnesses are qualified. Read the language above the signature lines for the witnesses and you’ll find that you must have disinterested unrelated non-health care related witnesses. Be sure the witnesses meet the requirements set out in the document.
Now, while you’re at the Registry, notice that you can register your completed living will and your durable power of attorney for health care (a form is also available for free). If you register your health care documents, they will be easy for someone to find them when (and if) they are needed. What a great idea, actually being able to find the documents when they are needed.
If you are still trying to think through the issues and how you want to be treated if you are in trouble health-wise and not able to communicate effectively, you may want to check out the Five Wishes document at http://www.agingwithdignity.org/. It is worthwhile exercise and you can get a copy for about $5.00 or so.
You know you’re supposed to brush your teeth and you probably do it – right? You know you’re supposed to look both ways before crossing the street. And, oh yah, there’s the one about not stepping on cracks or something happens to your mother’s back. Nobody walks on the street anymore and there are no cracks, so I guess we’re ok on that one. But, what about the one that says we’re all supposed to have a durable general power of attorney?
If you are ever out of commission, especially for more than a couple of days, you need someone to step into your shoes and do important things for you. Someone has to consent to that surgery, pay your bills and feed the dog (or cat). Someone has to make decisions for you and the only way that they can legally do that is to use a durable power of attorney or go to court and become your guardian. What fun! A judge gets to wave a wand and bang down the gavel on a person who will wear your shoes, and I sure hope they fit.
Attorneys and even judges forget to have a power of attorney prepared, so you are in good company. Doctors, nurses, teachers, baristas, that nice sales clerk at Target, the not so nice cop who gave you that ticket, the person taking tolls on the Narrows Bridge, pilots, you get the idea. Very few of us seem to get around to it and then hardly anyone ever updates it.
Stand out in the crowd and get your durable general power of attorney prepared. But, choose your agent wisely (that’s the person who steps into your shoes). I guess I could tell you to check shoe sizes carefully and make sure your agent wears socks. The wrong agent will likely end up in either Mexico or South Tacoma, depending on your account balance.
A good book on estate planning (in general) is Plan Your Estate, by Denis Clifford. Do it. Do it now.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:01 — 27.5MB)
Bob answers listener questions about name changes, pet care, and making sure that you report the sale of your car.