Joe had no idea how he was going to deal with the garage full of boxes of papers. They’d been there for nine years, ever since his mother died.
Joe tells the story:
“My mother had dementia and I was caring for her 24/7, so everything got ignored. I suppose I went into a depression after she died. I was very tired, and I couldn’t cope with it all on my own.
“I had about three weeks to clear the house up before I had to move out. A cleaner came in to help me and I just said, ‘Shove all the papers in boxes and we’ll worry about it later.’
“It’s nine years yesterday since my mother died. I’ve not achieved probate for her yet. I probably owe nine years of tax. It was a big weight on my mind, and I didn’t know what to do. Thankfully, a friend recommended Paperweight.”
“Abi, the lady from Paperweight, comes every week and we clear two or three boxes, throwing stuff away and putting the rest into files.
“It hasn’t all been dealt with yet, but at least we’re on a road. We’ll get there. Abi’s been coming about six months. We’re hoping to finish the boxes off within another couple of months. Then we’ll start work on sorting my affairs out.”
Abi describes the experience from her point of view: “When we first met, Ira was so stressed by the whole thing. It’s been brilliant to see the change in Joe. Now we sit down together and each work through a pile of papers. And we’re working together on the back tax returns, and completing probate. They aren’t particularly complicated, but they do need to be dealt with.
“I volunteer for Paperweight, because people need someone in their corner. Whether it’s sorting out a load of papers, or standing up for them with people like the utility companies, or HMRC. Vulnerable people don’t have the stamina or the confidence to handle these on their own.”
Joe is very grateful. He says: “I think Paperweight is an amazing organisation. I’ve got several friends who have been helped by them. In fact, I’ve got two friends who are in deep financial difficulties, and Paperweight is helping them to work it out, to negotiate with different people to whom they owe money, for rent and rates and electricity, and that sort of thing.
“I’ve just recently been diagnosed with cancer, and I would really like all my affairs to be in order so that my executor knows where to find everything. Abi was great to talk things through with and Paperweight’s guide ‘It’s Time to Have a Conversation’ had some very useful pointers. It gave me the confidence to approach a Will writer and know I have peace of mind. I feel like a new person. Abi’s amazing. Paperweight are amazing.”
