A Quick Primer on Living Wills

Wills convey our instructions about who should get our assets and who should care for our children after our death. Having this plan in place can give you confidence that your wishes are being carried out. As you consider your estate planning needs, you may also choose to implement a living will to ensure you’re protected in case of the unexpected.

Living Wills and Health Directives

Also known as an advance healthcare directive, a living will specifies which actions medical professionals can or can’t take if illness or incapacity have left you unable to decide. You can also use a healthcare proxy or a specific type of power of attorney to appoint a trusted person to make decisions on your behalf. It’s not uncommon for people to use a combination of both approaches.

As with other facets of estate planning, preparing a living will or authorizing someone to make decisions on your behalf can help to ease difficult times for your loved ones. Please get in touch if you’d like to discuss this topic in more depth.

Keeping Track of Your Wishes

Here are some situations that should trigger a review and possible changes to your planning documents:

• Relationship changes: If you’ve recently married, divorced, or entered into a civil partnership, your old will may no longer be valid. You’ll need to create an up-to-date document.
• Change in financial situation: If you’ve gained or lost a significant amount of wealth, you should make sure the provisions in your will are still appropriate.
• Change of executor: If the person you want to carry out the terms of the will and handle related legal matters has died or moved far away, you may want to name a replacement. Or, if your affairs have become more complex, you may decide a different executor is required.
• Addition or change of beneficiary: You may wish to add or remove a beneficiary from your will for any reason.

If you’d like to discuss these documents or your estate planning needs, contact the team at any time. You can also consult your attorney for specific questions regarding your will.

^{This communication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information on the subjects covered. It is not, however, intended to provide specific legal, tax, or other professional advice. For specific professional assistance, the services of an appropriate professional should be sought.}