Care Documents

While it isn't enjoyable to think about death or a time when we can't make our own decisions, it's important to plan ahead so that you and your loved ones are prepared and taken care of. Here are 8 important documents to help you do just that. 

1. Durable Power of Attorney: A durable power of attorney (DPOA) helps protect your property in case you become either physically or mentally unable to handle financial matters. This document allows you to authorize someone to act on your behalf to do things such as pay everyday expenses, collect benefits, watch investments, and file taxes. 
2. Advanced Medical Directives: If you're ever in a position where you can't make medical decisions for yourself, this document allows for someone do so for you. It specifies what medical treatments you want. There are different types of medical directives, so make sure you choose the one that's best for you. 
3. Living Will: This is a type of advanced medical directive that allows you to approve or decline certain types of care. Generally, this can be used simply to decline treatment that serves only to postpone death. 
4. Healthcare Proxy: A healthcare proxy is also known as durable power of attorney for healthcare. This allows you to authorize someone to make medical decisions for you, along with how much power they can or can't have. 
5. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR): This is a very important medical directive. This order instructs medical personnel to not perform CPR if your heart or breathing stops. 
6. Will: This is one of the most important documents for you to set up. Its main purpose is to disburse property to heirs after your death. You decide who manages and settles your estate, who will be the legal guardian for minors, and who receives disbursements of your property. It's important to keep your will clear and up to date. 
7. Letter of Instruction: A letter of instruction, or testamentary letter, is a nonlegal document that generally accompanies your will to express your thoughts and directions regarding the will. It can also include information such as burial wishes, locations of other documents, and private wishes that you may not want public. Anything included in the letter is simply a suggestion and is not legally binding.
8. Living Trust: This is a separate legal document you may choose to create if you own property such as a home and/or investments. You get to control the property in the trust and can change the terms, transfer the property, or end the trust altogether whenever you like. It is not necessarily needed, but it can help avoid probate.

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