Mountain Views News, Combined Edition Saturday, July 23, 2022

11 Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 23, 2022 11 Mountain Views-News Saturday, July 23, 2022 
HOW TO SELL UNWANTED BURIAL PLOTS 

Dear Savvy Senior,:
How do I go about selling unwanted burial plots in my 
hometown cemetery? When my parents died about 25 
years ago my husband (at the time) and I bought two 
plots near them in the same cemetery. But we’ve gotten 
divorced since then and have both moved out of state. 


Besides that, I would like to be cremated instead of 
buried. Looking to Sell 

Dear Looking:
Life changes such as relocating, family disputes and divorce, along with the growing popularity of cremation 
in the U.S., is causing more and more people to sell previously purchased burial plots they don’t intend to 
use any longer. But, depending on where you live and the location of the cemetery, selling a plot can be 
difficult. And, if you do sell it, you’ll probably get less than what you initially paid for it. Here’s are a few tips 
to get you started. 

Contact the cemetery: Your first step in selling your unwanted burial plots is to contact the cemetery 
and find out if they would be interested in buying them back, or if you’re allowed to sell them yourself 
to another person or family. And if so, what paperwork will you need to complete the sale and is there a 
transfer fee? 

Some states require sellers to offer the plot back to the cemetery before selling it to others. 

Selling options: If you find that it’s OK to sell your plots yourself, many people choose to use a broker. There 
are a number of companies, like PlotBrokers.com and GraveSolutions.com, that will list your plots for sale 
and handle the transaction for a fee and possibly a commission. If you go this route, you’ll sign paperwork 
giving the broker permission to work on your behalf. Listings can last up to three years or until the plots 
sell. 

Alternatively, or simultaneously, you can also list them yourself on sites like The Cemetery Exchange, 
GraveSales.com along with eBay and Craigslist, and handle the transaction yourself. In the ad, be sure to 
post pictures, describe the area where the cemetery is located and give the plot locations. 

What to ask: Appropriate pricing is key to selling your plots. It’s recommended that you find out what the 
cemetery is selling their plots for today and ask at least 20 percent less. If you’re pricing too close to what the 
cemetery charges, there’s no incentive for potential buyers. 

Beware of scammers: If you choose to sell your plots yourself, it’s not unusual for scam artist to reach out 
and try to get your personal financial information. Phone calls tend to be more genuine than emails and 
text messages. 

Donate them: If you don’t have any luck selling your plots, and if money isn’t an issue, you can donate them 
to charity such as a religious congregation, a local veteran’s group or an organization that aids the homeless. 
To get a tax deduction, you’ll need an appraisal, which a cemetery or broker may supply for a fee. 

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. 
Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. 


FAMILY MATTERS

 By Marc Garlett 

WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR BUSINESS WHEN YOU 
GET SICK OR DIE? 4 FUNDAMENTALS TO KNOW 

If you dream of one day leaving your company to your family, but you 

haven’t properly included your business in your overall estate plan, that 
dream could become a nightmare for your heirs—and for your partners, team members, and clients, 
too. In fact, properly planning for what would happen to your business upon your death or 
incapacity is one of the most important things you can do for your company.
Without a proper estate plan, the business you worked so hard to build could be in serious jeopardy 
when something happens to you. Not only that, but since your business is likely your most valuable 
asset, proactive planning is crucial not only for your company’s continued survival, but for your 
family’s future well-being as well.
Fortunately, you can use a few basic estate planning strategies to make sure your business survives 
your incapacity or death. Although you should consult with a qualified attorney to determine the 
specific planning vehicles right for your particular business and family situation, the following 
estate planning tools are essential for nearly all business owners. 

1. Living TrustPutting your company in a customized and thoughtfully prepared revocable living trust is one of 
the best ways to ensure your business’ continued success upon your eventual death or in the event 
of your incapacity. A living trust is a separate legal entity that effectively owns your share of the 
business, and allows you to document what will happen to your business when you can no longer 
run it yourself due to incapacity or death.
Unlike a will, assets properly included in a trust are not required to go through the court process 
of probate. Instead, those assets are promptly transferred to the person, or persons, of your choice 
in the event of your death or incapacity. In this way, a trust allows for the smooth transition of 
control of your company, without the time, expense, and potential conflict associated with probate 
or guardianship. 
Using a trust, you choose the individual(s) you want to run your company in your absence, whether 
that absence is permanent (your death) or merely temporary (your incapacity). Plus, trusts are 
not open to the public, so your company’s affairs and its assets would remain private, and transfer 
of ownership can take place in your lawyer’s office, not a courtroom. 

2. Buy-Sell AgreementIf you share ownership of your business with one or more other people, you’ll want to put in place 
a buy-sell agreement. A buy-sell agreement ensures that upon certain conditions—such as your 
death or permanent incapacity—the other owners are able to purchase your shares of the business, 
or it can stipulate that your shares will pass to your heirs. 
A properly prepared buy-sell agreement can prevent your family members from getting stuck owning 
a business they don’t want and can’t sell. And it also protects your surviving partners from 
being forced to deal with new owners they never planned on. The key to ensuring a buy-sell agreement 
works is to properly fund it, usually with life insurance. 

3. Life Insurance 
Unless your business generates significant revenue—and will continue to do so upon your death—
that income might not be enough to support the ongoing operation and financially provide for 
your family. By purchasing and properly structuring your life insurance, you can offer your family, 
team, and clients a financial safety net, while your loved ones finalize your affairs, and your successor 
assumes control of the company.
If your business has multiple owners, you can pair life insurance policies on each partner with your 
buy-sell agreement. By doing so, your remaining partners can buy out your shares at a previously 
agreed-upon price, and the life insurance can help pay for the buyout, without leaving the business 
bankrupt. 
4. Succession PlanningIf you hope to pass control of your company to a loved one or team member, you’ll need to create 
a comprehensive business succession plan to ensure the company doesn’t crumble when you 
die. Beyond merely naming your successor, a proper succession provides stability and security by 
allowing you to lay out explicit instructions for how the company should be run once you are no 
longer around.
From specifying how ownership should be transferred and providing rules for compensation of 
partners and team members to establishing dispute resolution procedures, an effective succession 
plan can provide the new owner with a detailed roadmap for your company’s continued success 
and growth. 
Don’t Put Your Business & Family at RiskEstate planning is every bit—if not more—essential to your company’s continued survival and success 
as any other issue facing your business. If you’ve yet to put your estate plan in place, you owe it 
to yourself (and your family) to take care of this vital responsibility immediately.
And even if you have an existing estate plan, you should have an attorney review it regularly to 
make sure you’ve actually covered all of your bases and that your plan stays properly updated over 
time to account for changes in your life, assets, and the law. 

Taking these actions now will not only help shield your company and family from unforeseen tragedy, 
but it will also give you the peace of mind 
needed to take your business to the next level. Marc Garlett, Esq.

Cali Law Family Legacy 

Best, Matters 
www.caliLaw.com 
626.355.4000 

SENIOR HAPPENINGS 


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! …July Birthdays* 

Nina Bartolai, Mary Lou Caldwell, Louise Neiby, Betty Hansen, Melinda 
Rogers , Christine Durfort, Shahrzad Azrani, Jeanne Borgedahl, Janet Cox, 
Dorothy Montgomery, Bess Pancoska, Janet Swanson, Barbara Watson, Pat 
Alcorn, Karma Bell, Alice Clark, Dorothy Jerneycic, and Betty Dos Remedios 

* To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 626.355.2737. YEAR 
of birth not required 
SIERRA MADRE SENIOR CLUB Every Saturday from 11:30am-3:30 pm in the Hart 
Park House Senior Center. Join us as we celebrate birthdays, holidays and pay BINGO. 
Must be 50+ to join. For more information call Mark at 626-355-3951. 

DOMINOES TRAIN GAME 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 11:00 am— 12:30 pm Hart Park 
House The object of the game is for a player to play all the tiles from their hand onto one or 
more trains, emanating from a central hub or “station”. Call Lawren with questions that you 
may have. 

PAINT PALS 

Tuesday, 7/21 , 10:30 am—Hart Park House If you enjoy painting, sketching, water color, or 
making some other form of artistic creation please join our new program, PAINT PALS!!! 
Bring a project that you are working on to the HPH and enjoy some quality art time with other 
artists looking to paint with a new pal. 

TEA AND TALK SENIOR BOOK CLUB Tuesday July 20 — 9:00 am Staff has launched a 
new book club series, Tea and Talk, which meets twice a month to discuss the fun, suspense, 
intrigue, love and so much more that each selection will have in store! 

FIBER FRIENDS Tuesday, 7/19 —10:00 am If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, embroidery, 
needlepoint, bunka, huck, tatting or cross stitch then we have a group for you! Bring your 
current project, a nonalcoholic beverage, then sit and chat with likeminded fiber friends. We 
meet in the Hart Park House 

CHAIR YOGA Every Monday and Wednesday, 10-10:45 am Please join us for some gentle 
stretching, yoga, balance exercise and overall relaxation with Paul. Classes are ongoing and 
held in the Memorial Park Covered Pavilion or the Hart Park House.. 

HULA AND POLYNESIAN DANCE Every Friday, 10-10:45 am Bring a lei, your flower 
skirt or just your desire to dance! Hula in the Park is back and waiting for you to join in on all 
the fun! Memorial Park Pavilion. 

BLOOD PRESSURE CLINIC - Tuesday, July 12 11:00 am - 12:00 pm

Methodist Hospital will be holding a free to seniors clinic once a month in the Hart Park 
House. Walk in are welcome - no pre-registration required. 

BINGO: July 14 1:00 pm - 2:00 pmCome down to the HPH (Hart Park House) for a lively round of BINGO. Prizes await! 


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder 

TO ASK OR NOT ASK IS NO OPTION 

You would think I would have learned all I needed to learn at my 
age. However, each day I learn something I did not know the day 
before. So much of my new learning is still connected to being married 
to The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. I know, for example, that she is not 
soliciting information when she asks a question. So many times, I forget and walk 
into that trap. 

Last week, for instance, The Gracious of the Parsonage looked out the living room 
window and sighed very deeply and then looking at me said, "Why is it so hot out 
there today?" 

Under normal circumstances, but what is normal these days, I would have realized 
this was not a question to be answered. But, without thinking, I looked at her and 
said, "It's Florida, and it's the middle of the summer, and that's why it's so hot out 
there." 
I then put on one of my typical smiles, and winked at her.
Not a good thing to do in this situation.
"Do you think that is funny?" she said with both hands on her hips and staring at me.
I then remembered that a woman asking you questions is not soliciting an answer. If 
only I could remember that, I could keep myself out of a lot of difficulties.
"I know it's summer, and I know we're in Florida, but I wasn't asking for your 
opinion." 

For me, it is not easy to know when she is asking and when she is not asking a question. 
So to answer one of her questions means I have to give her an opinion of mine. 
But, of course, that is never on the table. 
Recently we had an appointment across town, so my wife drove, and I sat in the 
passenger side. The traffic was heavy, and people were driving rather crazy. At one 
intersection, a car almost ran into us, and on my part, I lost all my heebie-jeebies.
My wife said, "What is wrong with people today? Why are they so crazy?"
I cleared my throat, and then she looked at me and said, "That was not a question I 
want you to answer. So keep your opinion to yourself."
I looked out the window and started to chuckle. I did not realize I was chuckling; it 
just came naturally.
"What are you chuckling about?" she said.
Now I am in one of those marital dilemmas. Is she asking a question she wants me 
to answer, or did she set me up?
I spoke up and said, "Look over there. Is that a Hobby Lobby store?"
The atmosphere in the vehicle changed automatically. She looked in my direction 
and asked me a question I knew she wanted me to answer, "Where's the Hobby 
Lobby?"
Sometimes when you answer a question with a question you get completely out of 
the swamp, you are sinking in.
For the next several minutes, she talked about why she wanted to visit Hobby Lobby 
and all the things she wanted to check on and maybe even purchase. So I just sat 
back in my seat and smiled, knowing I had missed the bombshell that time.
When the vehicle atmosphere got quiet, I knew I had to do something to diverge the 
energy, so I simply said, "Is that a new thrift store? I don't think I've ever seen that 
one before." 
Well, the conversation focused on the thrift store, and I learned everything there was 
to know about that thrift store and all of the stuff she bought there in the past. And 
even her plans to go and pick up some other items there.
She could not say enough good about that thrift store, and the more she talked about 
it, the more she smiled. I had accomplished my goal, and I was smiling on the outside 
now. The rest of the trip home was enjoyable.
Before we got home, she said, "I could go for some ice cream. Should we stop and 
get some ice cream?"
I just looked at her, smiled and shook my head. We then stopped, got some ice 
cream, and had a wonderful time there. 
"Wasn’t that," she said as we started back home, "the best ice cream we've had in a 
long time."
I know when not to answer certain questions, at least I am learning, but I also know 
that certain questions are open for response.
"Yes, my dear," I said as cheerfully as possible, "that was a good idea you had to get 
some ice cream." 
The trip ended well because I am learning to negotiate what is a question and what is 
not a question. But, you know I still have a long way to go, at least I am progressing. 
My confidence in our relationship is growing according to my understanding of the 
asking challenge I face everyday. 

This led me to a verse of scripture in 1 John 5:14 - “And this is the confidence that we 
have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us”
I am also learning what to ask and what not to ask when it comes to my relationship 
with God. Learning what questions God will answer goes a long way in my Christian 
experience and it saves me a lot of time. Most of my prayer time, up until now, has 
been wasted asking the wrong questions. 

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.
com. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com