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10 Frequently Asked Questions about End-of-Life Planning
Q1. What is end-of-life planning, and why is it important?
End-of-life planning is the process of making decisions about how you want to be cared for at the end of your life and how you want your affairs to be handled after you die. It is important because it ensures that your wishes are respected and that your loved ones are not left with difficult decisions and burdensome tasks during an already stressful time.
Q2. What documents do I need for end-of-life planning, and how do I create them?
The most important documents for end-of-life planning are a last will and testament, a living will (or advance directive), and a healthcare proxy (or power-of-attorney for healthcare). A last will and testament outline how you want your assets to be distributed after your death. A living will, also known as an advance directive, specifies your wishes for medical treatment in the event that you are unable to communicate them. A healthcare proxy (or power-of-attorney) is a legal document that designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. You can create these documents with the help of an attorney or by using online legal services.
Q3. How do I choose a healthcare proxy, and what are their responsibilities?
