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Show You And Your Money 1 ! Signature guarantee protects you ' f : " - By JUDITH G. RHOADES Copley News Service Q. I own a mutual fund. Since the headquarters is not too far from me, I recently re-cently called them on the phone requesting some shares be sold and the proceeds pro-ceeds be sent to me. They told me I needed to have a signature guarantee. Wby? Where can I get one? A.P., Reading, Pa. A. The mutual fund management man-agement requires a signature signa-ture guarantee from you so that they will not be selling shares for someone other than you. You should be glad that they take precautionary precau-tionary measures on your behalf. You can obtain a signature signa-ture guarantee from your bank or through your stockbroker. stock-broker. If you don't maintain main-tain an account with either, then you should open an account at a bank convenient conven-ient to your home or business. busi-ness. It doesn't have to be an account which you use on a continual basis, but whatever what-ever size, the bank will maintain your signature on file, and it will be a simple ' matter for you to obtain your verification or guaran-i guaran-i tee. Q. Is there such a tblng as being able to do my own divorce without a lawyer? I really can't afford a lawyer because tbey charge so much money. C.W., Canton, Can-ton, Ohio. A. Yes, there is in your state, as well as the District of Columbia and Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut,1 Con-necticut,1 Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Illi-nois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Penn-sylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin. According to Money magazine, mag-azine, there is a divorce kit which you can buy, which will show you step by step how to fill in the proper papers, and file them with the court. It should tell you what will happen when you have your hearing and how to prepare the papers for that also. If your husband contests your divorce, then you would be wiser to seek the services of a lawyer. Go to a clinic or legal aid. If you do use a do-it-your- self method, make certain that the book you buy was written by a lawyer who is in practice in your state. Q. I am Just about ready to retire from my Job less than a year away. I want to know wbat to do about Social So-cial Security and how to apply for It. A.V., Bur-bank, Bur-bank, Calif. Q. My husband died two months ago. My sister told me that I should apply for Social Security because I have two young children. Can I? Am I eligible? What do I do? J.J., Dallas, Texas. A. Let me answer part of the second question first. Yes, you may be entitled to monthly payments for you and your children. There is even a special rule, that cash payments can be made to a worker's children and their mother or father even though the worker dies with less than the required amount of credits needed to obtain Social Security. All that is needed Is for your husband to have worked under Social Security for one of the last one-and-one-half years during the three years before his death. You should apply at the Social Security office nearest near-est you. People who are getting ready to retire should apply to the Social Security office at least two to three months prior to retirement. A long delay in applying for monthly month-ly benefits can cause loss of some benefits since back payments can be made for no more than 12 months. If you are going to apply for your Medicare insurance you should do it three months before your birthday of the year you reach 65. Remember that when you apply for the hospital portion por-tion of your Medicare, you will automatically be enrolled en-rolled in the medical insurance insur-ance part of Medicare, which costs you a monthly fee unless you inform Social Security people that you don't want it. |