Do you know what would happen to you or your desired medical care wishes if you weren’t able to speak about them yourself? If you haven’t thought this through, your family members may face challenges that address pressure and stress. There’s also no way to know whether or not your wishes will be followed.
Most people know that a primary reason for planning your estate is naming the individuals who will receive your assets if something happens to you. Additionally, estate planning can be used to name guardians for your minor children and other important roles such as the executor of your estate. However, planning ahead for what happens after you pass away is not the only component of a holistic estate plan. Incapacity planning addresses your wishes and chosen stakeholders to make decisions and act on your behalf if something happens to you and you become unable to do so on your own.
Creating an incapacity plan gives you peace of mind that your wishes will be respected if anything happens to you in the future. Given that one in four adults will experience a disability at some point in their life, it’s wise to think about how a temporary accident, surgery, illness or other issue could render you unable to make decisions for yourself or carry out your own affairs.
An incapacity plan also helps to avoid difficult court proceedings by giving clear instructions about the kinds of treatment you want to receive if you become injured or ill. Finally, an incapacity plan reduces stress for your loved ones, so that they know that they are carrying out your wishes, if and when it becomes necessary to do so.
Talk to our Pasadena area lawyers for more support with your own estate plan.
