Most people think about estate planning in terms of death; they want to make plans for who gets the house, who inherits any savings, and whether the estate will have to go through probate. These things are important, but a good estate plan should also answer another serious question: What happens if you are still alive, but you suddenly can’t make decisions for yourself?
A car accident, stroke, sudden illness, dementia diagnosis, or hospitalization can change your and your family’s lives forever. If you have the right long-term care estate planning documents in place, the people you trust can step in and manage the situation according to your wishes. If you do not have these important documents ready to go, your family may be forced to make important decisions without knowing what you would have wanted. In some cases, they may need to go to court to get permission to do basic things like paying bills or making healthcare decisions.