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Planning Ahead
Get key legal documents in place. Understand and articulate preferences.
Planning Ahead
2 topics
Whether you or a loved one received a terminal diagnosis or you simply want to make sure your or your loved one's affairs are in order, start here. Do what you can. Come back regularly. The more complete and up-to-date you can keep these documents and wishes, the better position you and your loved ones will be in when there are tough decisions to navigate.
1.1
Core legal documents
These documents are the foundation of your plan. Create or update them now.
These are your four key legal documents to complete or review for updates:
- Will (Last Will and Testament): Draft or review with an estate attorney. You'll document how you want your things distributed, naming your executor (the person who will make sure these instructions are followed), and if you have children, naming the person who will be their guardian.
- Financial Power of Attorney: You can also do this with an estate attorney, or using a tool like LegalZoom. Names the person who can make financial and legal decisions for you if you aren't able to make them yourself. Without it, even simple things like paying one of your bills can be challenging for your loved ones.
- Healthcare Power of Attorney (Healthcare Proxy): This document names the person who can make medical decisions for you if you aren't able to make them yourself. Choose thoughtfully. This person should have a deep understanding of your values and wishes. Talk to the person first. Most states have forms you can access for free. Search by state here. Complete it, sign it in front of a witness, share copies with your proxy, your physician, and others as specified in the document.
- Advance Directive (Living Will): You may want to draft or review with an estate attorney, or you can use an online tool like Five Wishes. Your preferences for end-of-life medical treatment. Decide whether and in what circumstances you want life-sustaining support like resuscitation, ventilation, and artificial nutrition. These forms also differ by state and can be accessed at no cost through an estate attorney, and most hospitals and hospices.
Make sure people know where to find these documents. Give copies to your estate attorney, physician, and your healthcare proxy.
1.2
Full checklist: Planning ahead
All the essentials to make sure your affairs are in order.
Legal Documents
- Will drafted, signed, witnessed, naming your executor, and stored in a known location
- Financial power of attorney completed and naming your agent
- Healthcare power of attorney completed and naming your healthcare proxy
- Advance directive completed and distributed to your physician, healthcare proxy, and family
- POLST / MOLST completed with physician (for serious illness or terminal diagnosis)
- Executor, healthcare proxy, and at least one other person know where your documents are
Medical
- End-of-life preferences documented (CPR, resuscitation, ventilation, artificial nutrition)
- Hospice or palliative care conversation initiated with medical team, if applicable
- Location-of-death preference expressed to family and medical team
Body Care (Disposition)
- Burial, cremation, or other preference documented
- Pre-arranged funeral contract completed with a specific funeral home, if desired
- Veterans benefits eligibility confirmed and DD-214 located, if applicable
Financial
- Account inventory created and stored with important documents
- Beneficiary designations reviewed on all retirement accounts and life insurance policies
- Life insurance policies located and listed
- Property titled as intended
- Significant debts listed
Digital Estate
- Password manager or secure password document created and accessible to executor
- Social media preferences documented
- Cryptocurrency private keys or seed phrases secured and accessible to executor
Memorial Wishes
- Service preferences documented (type, tone, religious or secular, music, speakers). See the "Understand what goes into planning a gathering" section of this handbook, step 3.7, for a detailed look at your options.
- Copy of preferences given to executor and at least one other person involved in planning
Logistics
- Document location communicated to executor and at least one other person
- Pet caretaker named and confirmed
- Subscriptions and recurring charges listed
- Dependent care arrangements named and confirmed, if applicable
Your Legacy
- Letters written to the people who matter most
- Video or audio message recorded
- Stories and memories documented
- Ethical will or legacy letter drafted
Many dying people and their loved ones work with a death doula to guide them through end-of-life preparations. Doulas can support in many ways, often specializing in one or more area.