One thing that you may want to consider when doing your estate planning is to set up your medical wishes in advance. There are a few different ways that you do this, and they can be very helpful for your family.
Remember that making medical decisions for a loved one can be quite hard for some family members. They may not know what type of medical care to choose, or they may struggle to make decisions that are so emotionally charged. They may also worry that they could make the wrong decision or choose something of which you wouldn’t approve. By making these choices in advance, you take that pressure off of them.
Two basic options
There are many ways that you can address this, but two of the most common are with a power of attorney or an advance directive.
First off, you could create an advance directive that spells out your wishes. People sometimes do this if they don’t want to be kept on life-support, for example. The document simply tells your medical team not to give you that type of treatment, and you authorize this in advance so that it can apply even if you have been incapacitated.
With a power of attorney, you simply turn that decision-making power over to someone else. You name them as your agent. You can then work with this person to ensure that they know what you would want, and they can make decisions on your behalf. As long as they are willing, this still takes the pressure off of the rest of your family.
No matter what you decide to do, be sure you know what steps to take as you plan in advance for your future. Experienced legal guidance can help.