Put End-of-Life Decisions in Writing
This section deals with personal issues that are important but often difficult to face, such as how bills and expenses will be paid if you aren't able to, what medical care you want to receive if you can't voice your wishes, who you want to take care of your children after your death, and how you want to give your money and possessions to others upon your death. You may have been thinking about these matters and have made decisions about them. Now take the next step and put those decisions in writing. You may rest easier—and free your loved ones from the difficult task of making medical and financial decisions for you without knowing your wishes.
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- Allow others to handle your finances or vioce your healthcare wishes
- Take care of the people you care about most after you're gone
- Share your decisions and file your papers
- How to find a qualified estate lawyer
Because there are so many types of laws, lawyers usually specialize in one area of the law. For help preparing end-of-life documents, especially wills, it's a good idea to look for a specialist in estate planning. How do you find an estate lawyer who can help you, who will be easy to work with, and whose fees will be affordable? Start by taking these steps:
- Ask family, friends, doctors, faith leaders, social workers, or your local hospice for recommendations.
- Call your local bar association and ask for a list of estate planning lawyers or elder law specialists. Elder law is a relatively new legal area that, depending on the lawyer, can include help with estate planning, as well as with Medicare, Social Security, and issues such as long-term care and healthcare decision making. To find a lawyer or legal information in your state, go to www.findlegalhelp.org and click your state on the map that appears on the screen.
- If your city or county has a legal aid society and you qualify for assistance, you may be able to get free or low-cost help with legal issues, including your estate. Look under Legal Aid in the business pages of your phone book—or go to www.findlegalhelp.org and click your state on the map that appears on the screen.
Talk with two or three lawyers about your needs. This can be done over the phone. Some questions to ask:
- Will the lawyer provide a free consultation for an initial interview?
- How long has the lawyer been in practice?
- What percentage of the lawyer's practice is estate planning? (The higher the better.)
- What experience does the lawyer have working with people who are at the end of life? (A lawyer with experience in handling cases like yours should be more efficient and knowledgeable and that may save you money.)
- What type of fee arrangement does the lawyer require? Are the fees negotiable?
- What type of information do you need to provide?
- Ask for referrals. Ask lawyers you’re considering working with to give you the names of clients you can contact.
Free resources on a wide range of
end-of-life topics.
