Its true death is the end of your journey on earth. As many people put it, it’s time for you to rest. But your resting should not leave behind a huge burden for your family and friends. That’s why the end of life planning is essential. Even after your death, you still need to secure your family wellbeing and let them grief peacefully. Leaving a good legacy behind makes everything bearable for your family.
So, do you have questions about creating your end of life plan? Here is a well-detailed end of life planning checklist to guide you.
End of Life Planning Starts by Knowing Your Condition
As far as you don’t have to be sick to plan for your end of life, knowing your condition contributes a lot to your plans. If you’re sick, you need to consult deeper about your condition and know what you’re up against. Your doctor can assess your condition and help you understand the progress.
Ask as many questions as you can to understand everything clearly. The questions to ask include your chances of survival, how much time you have left, among others. You should also know what to expect from your caregivers.
Knowing everything will help you plan better for your situation.
Prepare Your Data and Documents
You need to organize all your documents and data and plan who’ll take care of them in your absence. Create a password list for all your gadgets and accounts in your end of life planning book. You can find reliable software that can help you pass your passwords on to your heirs in a well-organized manner. Review all your social media accounts and decide what you want to happen to them if you die. Understand the options that come with different sites. If you want them closed, you should state that clearly.
Don’t forget about your bank account information and life insurance policies. List all your assets and name a caretaker for them. Make sure you make everything in order and name your beneficiaries before your last day.
Plan What You Want When You Die
Everybody has their death wishes, and yours is not an exception. However, make sure your wishes are realistic, so you don’t leave your loved ones with tough decisions to make. Discuss with your family the kind of care you’ll like during your last days. Name what you’ll want to be done with your body when you die. Will you want to be cremated or buried? Where do you want to be buried or your ashes scattered?
Discuss all your fears and worries. Decide whether you’ll like to continue life-prolonging treatment. This is an important decision to make when you’re still capable of making decisions on your own.
Decide Between a Will and Trust
If your property and assets are worth $160k and above, you can consider a trust. A Trust protects your loved ones and your legacy when you’re gone. They also offer privacy as your family won’t have to go through the messy public process probate. If you’re not ready to create a Trust, you can start with a Will. A Will is quick, safe, and cost-effective to create. The good thing about a Will is that you can upgrade it to a Trust anytime.
Both a Trust and Will are important parts of planning your estate. The only difference between the two is that a Will is much simpler to create and will only take effect upon your death. A Trust is much complex to and goes into effect as soon as you create and fund it.
If you’re not sure about which one is best for you and your loved ones, our estate planning attorney can explain everything. Getting professional help in creating a Will or a Trust also ensures you make informed decisions.
Make Charity Plans
If you were a charitable person when you were alive, you wouldn’t want that to end as soon as you die. You might want to leave something behind for other people aside from your loved ones. Think of using some of your assets for a charity cause such as making one of your houses an orphanage.
You can also consider donating your organ or tissue to help prolong the life of another person who needs it most. You can even donate your brain to medical science. Make sure you write it down or make an Advance Decision and let your family know your wishes.
Make Plans on Your Funeral and Burial Arrangements
Making plans for your funeral and burial arrangements takes the huge burden off your loved ones. Your family and friends need an easier time to grief. They may not make good decisions in this state and can mess up things concerning your funeral proceedings and burial.
While you cannot arrange everything for them, planning eases the burden. Burial and funeral arrangements entail things like your religious beliefs and legacy. They also explain your wishes and how you want your family to say goodbye to you.
Think About Your Legacy
Everyone wants to be remembered for all the good things in life. Writing your obituary gives you control over how you want your family to remember you. Make plans for your funeral and remembrance ceremony.
You can also choose your speaker, the kind of music you love and want played in your burial. Create a message for your loved ones in the form of a letter, a video, or a voice speech. Make sure you find something meaningful to leave behind for people that matter in your life.
End of Life Planning is Tough but Essential
Since nobody wants to die, end of life planning can be traumatizing and emotional for you and your family. But you have to do it for the peace of mind of everyone left behind. This does not only ensure you leave a good legacy behind but also help avoid dispute among your kin.
Make sure you talk about everything with your family and friends and together decide what will happen. Also, involve an attorney in legal matters for professional guidance.
We’re here to make this easy for everyone involved with expert advice and helpful guides. If you need more tips on how to plan for your end of life and other legal matters, feel free to browse through this site.
