LOOSE END ~ Advanced Directive

Making Clear Decisions and Allocating Responsibilities

As part of our Loose Ends series, we consider several planning areas that should be regularly re-assessed and aligned with updated goals, documents, conversations, and other important details. Here we note loose ends to tie off surrounding your Advanced Directive.

The Advanced Directive (Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care) ensures that your affairs will be handled by a person of your choosing in the event of incapacity. Specifically, it appoints an Attorney in Fact for all health care decisions who is responsible for exercising all living will decisions and implementing burial instructions. Without documentation of your desires, heirs are left to make critical and emotionally taxing decisions in a short period of time and often under a great deal of stress. Documenting these instructions and communicating them to your heirs can be extremely helpful to them.

Potential loose-ends to secure and manage

• Relevancy and maintenance regarding any State Law changes – or updated forms if you have moved! (click here for Advanced Directive forms by State)
• Ensuring the Attorneys in Fact are able and willing to follow your instructions and wishes and make the decisions they will be asked to make – have the conversation!
• Ensuring the Attorneys in Fact are familiar with the burial wishes of the one(s) who are naming them
• Capturing changes to your wishes in your will and other documents

If you are interested learning more about our Loose Ends – Wealth & Beyond programs check out our recent blogs on the subject and specific areas to concentrate on tying off loose ends

• Reviewing your Advanced Directive
• Reviewing Your Memorial Instructions
• Reviewing Your Last Will & Testament
• Reviewing Your Trust Documents
• Reviewing Your DAF & Other Philanthropic Vehicles
• The LEM Asset Microscopes
• Family Limited Partnerships