A person clearly approaching the end of life might specify what type of comfort care they want. One can also specify the types of medications he or she wants to receive under various scenarios. In tandem with creating a will or trust, many folks design an advance health care directive, which is a legal document that specifies in detail how you wish to be treated medically in various health-related circumstances, if you are unable to speak for yourself.Ī person would specify in a directive, for example, whether or not he or she wants CPR, ventilator use, tube feeding, IV fluids, etc., in particular circumstances. The appointment of a designated agent ensures that one individual is able to speak authoritatively about Mom’s wishes and make a binding decision. 1 argument I hear about is whether Mom really wanted to be cremated or not,” says Willi, even in the presence of documents that specify disposal instructions. Even though 50% of Americans choose cremation, “the No.

Willi recommends clients put in a place an appointment of agent for remains, a document that designates a sole individual as the ultimate arbiter of how the deceased’s remains are to be dealt with. In addition to a will, there are other documents you should consider preparing in order to ensure your affairs are settled quickly and efficiently. “Why? Because estate planning is often times expensive, time-consuming and antiquated.”Īny number of qualified lawyers are available to help you create these documents, or you can turn to a service such as Trust & Will, which has “approached estate planning from a design-first perspective, layered on top of incredible customer support to help people throughout the process,” according to Barbo. adults have still not started the process,” says Cody Barbo, CEO of Trust & Will, an online estate planning service.

Drawing up these documents is often quite challenging, with a considerable amount of soul searching and angst involved. This generally involves the preparation of a document such as a will or trust that makes the decedent’s directives clear and legally binding. Estate PlanningĪ crucial part of planning for the end of one’s life is estate planning, which is arranging for the management and disbursement of a person’s property - including their digital assets and accounts - upon their death. Life insurance also enables survivors to pay off any of your debts that may be left behind, or cover the mortgage on your house so your family doesn’t lose their home. These benefits ensure your family can take care of your final expenses, giving you the send-off you deserve, without going into debt. It’s not something anyone wants to spend money on, but an insurance policy that pays benefits to designated loved ones upon your death is essential for a number of reasons. Let’s look at some of the aspects of preparing for end of life. But there’s always a chance the unthinkable happens, and if that’s the case, you want your loved ones to have everything they need to get through a devastating time as effortlessly as possible. I don’t need to worry about this stuff yet,” you could very well be correct. Lantern, for example, is one such service - it’s online, it’s easy to use, and it helps you tick off all the items on your end-of-life checklist.īy the way, if you’re thinking, “I’m young and healthy. Let’s break them down into easily digestible parts, so you can make a plan to tackle each one.Īnd as you’re reading this, keep in mind that there are tools available to you make the process easier.

“At the time a loved one dies,” says Austin estate-planning lawyer Tracy Willi, “even the most reasonable people lose their minds for about a year and a half.”Įven when planning in advance, the sheer number of decisions can be overwhelming. Without well-laid-out plans, loved ones are left confused and distressed at an extraordinarily difficult time. But this preparation for the ultimate loss is crucial. Planning for the end of a life is among the most important and also the most difficult tasks we face, whether we are planning for our own or for a loved one. The Ultimate End of Life Planning Checklist

Estate planning preparation checklist