While it is true that taking care of the financial side of things is a big part of estate planning it is wise to see the entire picture and plan comprehensively for all the eventualities of aging.
After all, when you are taking steps to arrange for the eventual transfer of assets to your loved ones you are doing this because you care about them and want to do right by them. At the same time, there are some other things that you can do to make things easier on those that you will be leaving behind.
Along these lines you would do well to make sure that you have executed your advance health care directives. The directives that are widely recommended are a living will and a durable medical power of attorney.
Imagine being faced with the prospect of deciding whether or not you should direct doctors to discontinue artificial life support measures that are keeping a loved one alive. You may know that you would want to be allowed to pass away naturally, or you may know that you would prefer to be kept alive. But it’s not about you; you are being asked to act for someone else and this is an excruciating position to find yourself in.
This is why it is advisable to leave behind a living will that lets your family know how you would want to proceed under such a circumstance.
The durable medical power of attorney is used to name someone to make decisions in your behalf about matters that may not be addressed in the living will so there is no confusion or disagreements among your loved ones.
If you have overlooked the need for advance health care directives, the sooner you execute them the better. Right now would be a good time to take action and make an appointment to speak with a licensed South Carolina estate planning lawyer to put these important legal instruments in place.
John Kuhn, Estate Planning Attorney
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