Mt. Juliet and Lebanon TN
We typically make plans for our life, but what about plans for after life ends? Many people simply want to avoid the thought of dying and do not have their end-of-life wishes planned. Have you ever given it much thought? You should. Here is a checklist to help guide you through important end-of-life decisions that need answers now.
Planning your end-of-life wishes will save your loved one’s time, money, and headache.
Include Those That Matter
Gather information for decision-making, which includes discussing your wishes with family, close friends, or trusted advisors. Also, be sure to share this information with your doctor. Make sure these trusted individuals understand any end-of-life decisions you would like made on your behalf.
Advance Health Care Derivative
Advance health care derivative spells out what you wish to happen to you medically, should you be unable to make these decisions on your own. Are there any specific medical requests you would like to make known, or other decisions regarding your health? This plan will outline what you wish to happen to you when you are dying.
Estate and Financial Planning
Protect your long-term assets by planning your estate and finances. You can even use this plan to prearrange your funeral and state how you wish to be buried. Estate and financial planning also outline who gets what when you die, and how your money is to be used or distributed. You may have special assets or heirlooms that you would like to go to specific people. Having this list thoroughly planned will prevent arguments between your loved ones.
Choose An Executor
When deciding to plan your estate, choose a trusted family member or close friend to be your executor, which means they bear the responsibility of seeing that your end-of-life wishes are carried out according to your estate plan. Ideally, you should discuss this with your family ahead of time so that there are no surprises or people left wondering why you made the decision that you did.
Be sure that once you have your end-of-life paperwork in order, that you make copies and give them out appropriately. Give one to your health care provider, other physicians that treat you, the executor of your estate, and other close family and friends that will be involved in your end-of-life care.
These factors are only a starting point to planning your end-of-life checklist. Once you have an attorney such as Yancy Belcher assist with your estate planning, be sure to keep your information safe and accessible. The information you set forth will not be helpful to you or others that are caring for you if it is not accessible.
Yancy Belcher provides free consultations. To get started with yours, contact our office by calling (615) 773-2889. We will be happy to meet with you and discuss your questions in preparing an end-of-life checklist.
Yancy Belcher, attorney at law, serves the Mt. Juliet, Hermitage, and Lebanon, Tennessee areas.
