What to Include in Your End-of-Life Plans and How to Share Them

Your passing will no doubt be an emotional time for your family and friends. In the midst of their grief, however, it can be comforting to know that your loved ones understand exactly what your wishes are.

That clarity and peace of mind are why creating end-of-life plans ahead of time is such an important gift for the people you care about. By putting everything in writing, you can minimize the risk of family arguments about your intentions, so they can focus on being there for each other and healing.

What Are End-of-Life Plans?

End-of-life plans consist of several documents that express your wishes regarding your medical care, distribution of assets, and funeral arrangements. Among the most important of them are the following:

Will

A last will and testament specifies how you want the assets that are part of your estate to be divided. You can also write down special bequests if you have a loved one with a particularly strong emotional connection to an item you own.

In your will, you’ll want to name someone you trust and who has some financial acumen to serve as your executor. This person has the responsibility of distributing your assets according to your wishes, and paying any taxes or other liabilities you may owe at the time of your death. If you have minor children, you can also name a guardian who will take care of them should both of their parents pass away.

Power of Attorney

A durable power of attorney document gives someone legal authority to make financial decisions on your behalf should you become incapacitated. Sometimes known as an “authorized agent” or “representative,” this individual has access to your bank and investment accounts and can pay your bills for as long as you’re unable to do so.

Advance Care Directive

Often called a “living will,” an advance care directive allows you to communicate your wishes regarding medical care if you’re not able to make those decisions on your own. The directive usually addresses your intentions regarding life-sustaining treatments (whether you want resuscitation, for example) as well as what palliative care and medications you would like.

Healthcare Power of Attorney

A healthcare power of attorney, or medical proxy, form gives someone you trust the ability to make important decisions about your care when you’re medically incapacitated. This person is responsible for following your wishes, as outlined in the advance care directive.

Funeral and Memorial Wishes

You can let your loved ones know what type of ceremony you’d like when you pass away as well as any specific readings, music, or rituals you’d like performed there. This document also communicates whether you prefer to be buried or cremated and where you’d like your remains to be interred or scattered.

Personal Messages

You may choose to write a letter to your loved ones explaining why you decided to distribute your property the way you did or simply express your feelings toward them. A personal statement allows you to speak directly to loved ones in your own voice, giving them comfort and clarity during a stressful episode.

Planning Your Digital Estate

You’ve likely thought about what will happen to your financial assets and tangible property when you’re no longer around. But you may want a plan for all the online content you’ve created over the years, as well.

Naming a digital executor in your will is a relatively new concept, but it’s important to have someone manage your email, social media, and photo-sharing profiles after your death. Provide clear instructions for how you want them to handle each account, whether that’s closing it down, archiving your content, or sharing multimedia files with specific people.

Some platforms, including Facebook and Apple, allow you to create a “legacy contact” who will have access to certain content, including photos and other files, when you pass away. For any accounts where that’s not possible, make sure your digital executor knows where you keep your username and passwords but don’t provide that information in the will itself.

Storing and Sharing Your End-of-Life Plans

Preparing your end-of-life documents is a critical step, but it’s just as important to ensure that the key decision-makers have access to them when needed. That means storing them in a safe place and communicating where your executor and powers of attorney can find them.

To make everything go smoothly when you fall seriously ill or pass away, consider the following steps:

• Find one central spot for all your documents, including your will, advance care directive, and power of attorney forms, so nothing gets overlooked.
• Tell the appropriate people where your end-of-life documents are kept and provide instructions for how they can access them.
• Make sure to provide your doctor with a copy of your advance care directive and healthcare power of attorney (and share them with the people you name in those documents, too).
• Choose a secure, fireproof place for your documents, but make sure the key people involved know your code to open it, if needed.

Taking these precautions now can help minimize the risk that the people you entrust won’t be able to find or access your papers when they need to. Don’t forget to review your documents every so often or after major life events to make sure they’re up to date.

Getting Started on Your Essential Documents

Having your documents carefully planned and stored in a safe place can ensure that your family isn’t left scrambling during an already stressful time. When everything is clear and accessible for the important people in your life, they’ll be able to carry out your wishes without having needless arguments and delays.

End-of-Life Planning FAQs

Do I need a lawyer to prepare end-of-life documents?

Strictly speaking, you typically don’t need an estate lawyer to create a will or other end-of-life documents as long as you fulfill the signing and witnessing requirements of your state. However, you may want to get an attorney involved anyway to make sure everything is done properly. They can be particularly helpful if you have complex needs, like a large estate or a blended family.

What happens if I die without a will?

If your family can’t provide a valid will, you die “intestate.” That means a probate court chooses how your assets will be distributed. Usually, spouses and children are given priority. The court will also decide who will be guardian of any minor children.

To make sure you have control over your property and the raising of your children, you should draft a will and make sure the key people know where to find it.

What’s the difference between an advance care directive and a healthcare power of attorney?

An advance care directive, or living will, clarifies which medical interventions you’d like to receive (or not receive) if you become incapacitated. A healthcare power of attorney names the individual who will make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to according to the wishes you outlined in your living will.

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