Turkey

It’s Thanksgiving and you are spending time with your family and friends. It is a  festive and happy time, perhaps a little stressful. You want to catch up with family members that you have not seen in a while, talk about the promotion you are getting at work and talk about your kids. Consider that this is also a chance to speak to your parents and unmarried siblings and get answers to some difficult questions about estate planning and crisis planning.

Where do you keep important documents?

Do you have an executed Will or Trust?

Is your life insurance up to date?

Do you have long term care insurance?

Do you have a Power of Attorney and a Health Care Proxy?

Do you have a Living Will?

What do you want done if you suffer a medical emergency?

What are your funeral wishes?

Where do you store your passwords and your household information?

I know that this is not the usual type of discussion for Turkey Day. Most of us procrastinate and wait until a crisis strikes before we go hunting for this information.  If you really love your family, this information needs to be known ahead of a medical emergency. A little discussion now can prevent added anxiety later and will help to make sure that things go a close to plan as possible later. So have the conversation and then watch the football game together and celebrate the holiday as you usually do. You will probably feel better that the discussion has taken place.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Photo Credit: Didriks on Flickr

Post a Reply