Going on a Summer Vacation? Pre-travel estate planning should be at the top of your to-do list! Here are 7 items that you will want to add to your checklist:
Living Revocable Trust
Make sure you have a Revocable Living Trust in place that appoints a person to settle your affairs, designates who will receive property and proceeds, and most importantly avoids probate.
HIPAA Authorization
Due to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, you will need to give consent for a friend or family member to receive medical information should anything happen to you.
Durable Power of Attorney
If you are unable to make financial decisions, you will want to appoint an agent to step in and make these decisions for you. This document covers everything from legal to financial claims.
Advance Healthcare Directive
In the event that you are not able to make medical decisions for yourself, you will want to appoint an agent who will make medical treatment decisions on your behalf.
Guardian Designation
Do you have children younger than 18? Make sure you appoint a guardian plus an alternate guardian if your first choice is not able to fulfill his/her duties.
Updated Beneficiaries
If you haven’t update your Trust in years, it might not reflect your wishes about beneficiaries, especially if you are divorced.
Financial Login Information
Make sure someone you trust has login information for your financial and other online accounts. It is is important to record all logins, passwords, and other relevant information securely should something happen to you.
An estate planning attorney at Celaya Law can make sure you’ve got these and other documents in order before you take your new trip.