Just received a call from my client’s wife.

Let’s call my client L, and his wife K.

K: Hi Ian, I wanted to ask you about the medical card my husband bought for me two years ago.

Me: Hi K, yes he got that medical card from me. Are you okay? Do you need to admit to hospital or something?

When clients call me out of nowhere, it’s usually something that has happened to their health. I was hoping it was not something serious.

What she said next, I would never have ever seen it coming.

K: Uh… My husband passed away two weeks ago.

Me: What?! Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry to hear that! How did it happen?

K: It’s very sudden. It was a heart attack.

Me: I’m… I’m so sorry…

Technically, L was not my client. He didn’t actually manage to get any medical coverage.

Because he had diabetes, and it’s Type 1 diabetes – the arch nemesis of insurance companies.

When I first broke news to him on how his application was declined, but he could still consider life insurance, he politely declined and said to get his wife medical coverage instead.

And so K officially became my client instead, kudos to her being in the pink of health.

K: Ian, all these while my husband’s been taking care of my policies for me so I don’t really remember what my medical card covers. Can you help me?

Me: Sure thing… I uh… Let me open up your data for you…

I proceeded to explain her information to her and reminded her she needed to update her nomination from her husband to her daughter.

Me: I.. I’m sorry… I still can’t believe he’s gone. I was thinking of paying you both a visit in my next trip to KL.

K: Yes it’s a shock for us. Now I’ve got a lot of things to settle. Everything is too sudden for us.

Me: Say, did L write a will? Because the last time I spoke to him about this, he hadn’t done it.

K: No he didn’t. So now I have been asking around for some lawyers to help me in this. They told me I need to get this Letter of Administration, but it seems very expensive.

Me: Uh… yeah… If you pass away without a valid will, it’s call intestacy. Usually more troublesome, more time-consuming, and definitely more expensive. But it also depends on how much L’s estate is.

Then something struck me.

Me: Oh ya! L told me he’s was working on some cryptocurrency trading app back then and he also dabbled quite some funds in it. Did he tell you anything about that?

K: Oh… No he didn’t. He left so suddenly.

Me: Oh no…. Then it’s near impossible to retrieve them.

K: I don’t even know how much is in there.

Me: Okay, let’s just focus on other tangible assets and liabilities he had. Do you still have properties and mortgages?

K: Yes. Two of them. One bank came back and told me the MRTA insurance is not enough to cover, I still owe about 300K. The other one won’t disclose to me yet until I sort out the LA.

Me: Gosh, but he still had some life insurance payout for you right?

K: Yes, he did.

Good thing that L managed to get some life insurance before he was diagnosed with diabetes. But at that point I didn’t feel appropriate to ask her how much the payout was.

Me: Good thing. So have you heard of the Distribution Act?

K: Yes. That’s what the lawyer told me. But I still wasn’t too clear about it.

Me: It means that not just you and your daughter, but his parent’s will also have a share from his estate, 25% to be precise. Are his parents still around?

K: His mother.

Me: Ooo… And… how are things between you and her? You both good with each other?

K: Errmm… not really…

Me: Aih…. Okay… That’s gonna be a problem. Maybe, maybe not. But in any case, one battle at a time. Let’s focus on what you can do next… and here’s what you need to do…

I spent the next 20 mins finding out more crucial details of her situation and promised her a checklist of things to prepare in facing the probate process, not forgetting to reassure her that she could come back to me for any enquiry on how to proceed.

As I am writing this down, I am still reeling from the loss of a friendly client. L passed away at a young age of 46. He was nothing but friendly and pleasant. I wish I could do more for him. But now that he’s no longer around, I will try my best to assist K in navigating the windy road ahead.

Rest in Peace, L.

PS: The last time I spoke to another lady whose husband passed away suddenly without a will, she took 16 months to get her LA from the court, before she could gain access to his assets.

Again, when’s the best time to write a will?

There’s only one — When you’re alive.