Don’t Get Caught Dead Without Having Your Affairs In Order

Nancy A. Roberson, Roberson Law

The recent sudden deaths of celebrities Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds and Mary Tyler Moore have made many people think about end-of-life issues that are often uncomfortable and difficult to consider. Have you thought about your death? How will you die? What about your loved ones? How will they die? These are morbid, but realistic, thoughts because none of us will escape this earth alive. Some of us will live long lives and then peacefully slip away. Others will die suddenly, and some will die painfully, after prolonged illnesses. During an illness, we or others may need to make gut-wrenching decisions about our health care and legal affairs.

In addition to focusing my practice on estate planning, trust and probate law, during my life, I have been involved with end-of-life health care decisions for family (including my first husband, my grandmother, and my father). Always foremost is the concern about what the person would have wanted.

Most people would prefer not to think about the possibility of a life or death decision having to be made for them if they are terminal or permanently unconscious, but putting those closest to us in the unfortunate position of lacking the knowledge or authority to make such a decision would be far worse. In addition to having a will and general durable power of attorney, health care directives are essential documents in your estate plan. A health care directive is a written document containing your wishes about your health care. I recommend your health care directives be separate from your general durable power of attorney because you may want a different person to make health care decisions for you than the person who takes care of your financial matters.

Obtaining a complete estate plan may not be at the top of your priority list for 2017, but don’t delay. You owe it to your children and loved ones to be prepared for the unexpected and inevitable. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1-2.