INFO KIT

4. THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Everyone has things sometimes that seem to spin around in their minds keeping them from sleeping. And, in the middle of the night, things can also feel overwhelming. Often, in daylight hours, we can take some positive action to fix these worries, but we often put them off only to have them return and keep us awake.

The things can cause us concerns often relate to what may happen many years from now – things like the need for a Will, finding out what continuing care is available if needed, etc. These sheets will look at some of the things that can be done making it easier to just get on and live life with fewer sleepless nights! The funny thing is, everybody should have a grip on these issues, not just people with HIV. If you deal with them, whatever your situation, they are done with and you can get on with life.

MAKING A WILL

Everybody needs a will! If a person dies without a Will, their assets are divided up according to a statutory formula. If you want a choice in what happens to your assets, you need to make one.
There are many ways to organise this. Most of them simple!

  1. Contact your local AIDS Council for free legal assistance.
  2. Speak with any private lawyer/solicitor who will usually be able to prepare a Will for less than $100.
  3. Attend a local Community Legal Centre who will assist you for a small fee.
  4. The Public Trustee or State Trustee will prepare your Will for free as long as they are appointed as your Executor. They deduct fees from estates for carrying out the duties of the Executor.

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

What are they?

There are 3 types of Power of Attorney:

To ensure that any Power of Attorney is prepared and witnessed correctly it is best to follow the guidelines for advice and preparation given previously under the ‘Wills’ section of this document.