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Do you want to talk to a lawyer about your estate planning needs?

You may have a unique situation or have specific questions about what is right for you and your family. In these cases, it may be best to talk to an attorney.
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a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:
What’s included:
  • Being part of a blended family
  • Caring for children with special needs
  • Establishing and maintaining trusts
  • …and any other concerns you have!
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Do you have children from a previous relationship or a child with special needs?

There are special considerations to make if you have a blended family or a child with special needs. In these cases, it may be best to talk to an attorney.
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Thank you for taking our quiz!
Your answers suggest you might benefit from:

Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:
What’s included:
  • Being part of a blended family
  • Caring for children with special needs
  • Establishing and maintaining trusts
  • …and any other concerns you have!
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Do you have a large estate or an interest in more advanced estate planning tools like trusts?

If your estate equals or exceeds a value of $1 million, or needs special estate planning tools like trusts, it may be best to talk with an attorney.
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Thank you for taking our quiz!
Your answers suggest you might benefit from:

Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:
What’s included:
  • Being part of a blended family
  • Caring for children with special needs
  • Establishing and maintaining trusts
  • …and any other concerns you have!
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Okay! You’re good at this.

Are you looking to have your estate planning basics covered?

Our Estate Planning Package includes a Last Will & Testament, Health Care Directive & Living Will, and Financial Power of Attorney to cover all of your basic estate planning needs.
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Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Do you have minor children?

If you have minor children, you will want to name a guardian for them.
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Do you have pets?

If you have a pet or pets, you will want to name someone to care for them.
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Do you want to leave gifts to people or a charity?

If you want to give items or money to people or charities, you will want to make what are known as “specific gifts.”
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Do you own a business?

If you own a business or a share of a business, you will want to plan for succession of ownership.
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Do you want to decide how your property is distributed when you pass away?

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Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?

In case you are incapacitated, you will want to list your health care preferences and name someone to handle your health care decisions.
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Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

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Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Understood! Last question…

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

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Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Do you want someone to handle your health care decisions if you are unable?

In case you are incapacitated, you will want to list your health care preferences and name someone to handle your health care decisions.
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Understood! Last question…

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

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Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Understood! Last question…

Do you want to specify someone who can make financial decisions for you if you are unavailable or incapacitated?

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Good to know! How about this next one?

Do you have a spouse with similar needs?

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Thank you for taking our quiz!
Your answers suggest you might benefit from:

Speaking with
a FindLaw Attorney

Our directory of experienced, local attorneys can help you with circumstances such as:
What’s included:
  • Being part of a blended family
  • Caring for children with special needs
  • Establishing and maintaining trusts
  • …and any other concerns you have!
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Estate Planning Package

For One person

$135
What’s included:
  • Last will and testament
  • Living will
  • Power of attorney
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • A comprehensive plan — for less
  • Free changes and revisions for up to one year after purchase
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All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Power of Attorney

For one person

$39
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Living Will

For One Person

$39
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament

For One Person

$79
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Estate Planning Package

For two people

$255
What’s included:
  • Two wills, living wills, and powers of attorney
  • Two free HIPAA release forms
  • You and your loved one create your own estate plans tailored to your individual needs
  • Attorney-approved documents customized to your state’s laws
  • Free changes and revisions for up to one year after purchase
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All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Power of Attorney

For two people

$78
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Living Will

For Two People

$78
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament

For Two People

$149
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Living Will + Power of Attorney

For one person

$78
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament + Power of Attorney

For one person

$118
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament + Living Will

For One Person

$118
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Living Will + Power of Attorney

For two people

$156
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament + Power of Attorney

For two people

$227
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
  • A power of attorney that’s tailored to your needs
Close

All done! Based on your answers, we recommend:

Last Will and Testament + Living Will

For Two People

$227
What’s included:
  • Step-by-step guided process
  • Attorney-approved document compliant with your state’s laws
  • A last will and testament that’s customized to your wishes
  • Free changes and revisions to your will for up to one full year after purchase
  • A living will tailored to your needs
  • Free HIPAA release form
  • Free changes and revisions to your document for up to a full year after purchase

How To Plan Proactively for a Medical Emergency

Everyone’s probably heard the saying “Life happens and then you die.” From natural disasters, like a tornado, to the pandemic, the last few years have shown us just how true that can be. No one should take their health for granted. We know it’s important to have a first aid kit and fire extinguisher in our homes, but it’s also important to have an emergency plan in place if a crisis occurs.

Table of Contents

If something happens and you are suddenly unable to make or communicate your wishes, possible situations that could happen include:

  • Mishandling of your finances and unpaid bills or expenses
  • Unknown information about the health care treatment you want or do not want to receive and questions about your health insurance

And if you were to die without a plan, there may be uncertainty among your loved ones regarding who you want your assets and other belonging to go to. This can cause confusion and conflict among your family and friends, and even lead to legal proceedings. Emergency preparedness is about more than calling the local fire department or EMS. The effects of not being prepared can exist long after the first responders get you to an emergency room.

Proactive Planning Includes an Estate Plan

Fortunately, you can prevent the worst by taking matters into your own hands now by creating an estate plan. You may even be able to make an estate plan yourself. Our state-specific estate planning forms are easy to use and include instructions for signing and finalizing your documents according to what’s required in your state.

You should consider what you want to happen after you die and think about what you would and wouldn’t want if you were incapacitated. This is when you are no longer able to make decisions or communicate on your own, often because you have a terminal condition, are permanently unconscious, or suffer from some other end-stage condition.

You can leave instructions for the distribution of your assets after your death and appoint a guardian for minor children, if any, in your last will and testament. In the event you become incapacitated, you can appoint someone you trust to manage your finances by preparing a financial power of attorney. Additionally, you can further plan for incapacity by making a health care directive and living will with instructions for your medical care and the designation of a health care agent to oversee your medical treatment.

Making Your Medical Wishes Known

You need to decide what you would like to happen if you are unable to make decisions about your health care so you can receive urgent care quickly. By creating a health care directive and living will, you can state your treatment preferences and appoint a health care agent. A health care directive and living will can also be called an advance directive, medical power of attorney, health care power of attorney, declaration regarding life-sustaining treatment, or some other similar term. Many people choose to create a health care directive and living will that is made up of two parts and contains:

  • Instructions for health care treatment
  • The designation of a health care agent

The instructions for treatment you want and do not want to receive can include directions regarding emergency care and:

  • Primary care facilities, health care providers, and other medical team members or caregivers
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillators (AED)
  • Life-sustaining treatment, such as ventilation
  • Artificial nutrition and hydration
  • Treatments specific to your personal health risks
  • Organ or tissue donation

You should choose someone you trust as your health care agent to ensure you receive high-quality patient care and medical services. A health care agent is also sometimes referred to as an attorney in fact, health care surrogate, medical representative, health care proxy, or something similar. This person can make sure your instructions are followed and make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so yourself.

Take Care of Your Finances

The handling of your finances can become a serious issue during an emergency situation. To make your emergency response more effective, you can include a financial power of attorney in your estate plan. You are able to appoint someone you trust, called an agent or attorney in fact, to handle your money and property for you if you are incapacitated. Some examples of what you can grant your agent the authority to do on your behalf include:

  • Handle real estate transactions and manage your personal property
  • Oversee your investments and banking activities
  • Run your business
  • Handle lawsuits
  • Maintain your family’s standard of living by paying bills and other expenses
  • Access and maintain your social media accounts

Your financial agent is not the same thing as a health care agent and cannot make decisions about your health care. However, you can also give your financial agent the authority to pay your medical bills and make inquiries about health insurance premiums or reimbursements and other claims.

Plan for the Worst

Although it may not be something you want to do, a proactive approach to emergency planning includes thinking about what happens after you die. Do this by making sure your estate plan includes a last will and testament. You can state how you want your property distributed at your death, nominate a guardian for any minor children, name a caretaker for your pets, if any, and appoint a personal representative to administer your estate. A personal representative is often called an executor and pays any debts or claims against your estate and distributes your assets as instructed in your will.

DIY Resources for Emergency Planning

It may sound overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. FindLaw wants everyone to have access to the peace of mind that comes with having your affairs in order. That’s why our estate planning documents are easy to use and carefully tailored to meet the requirements of your state. You can prepare for all kinds of emergency situations by creating your own estate plan.

Estate planning solutions to fit your needs.

Written by:

Rebecca Rosefelt, Esq.

Contributing Author

Reviewed by:

Jordan Walker, J.D.

Legal Writer