Health Care Resources for End-of-life Planning

For many, the word “estate” conjures up thoughts of a sprawling mansion. In reality, it doesn’t matter if you own a mansion or a mobile home. Estate planning is simply a fancy name for a plan to make sure that your property and health care wishes are carried out when you die.

In a recent report we touched on the importance of keeping certain financial documents. Today, we are taking a deeper dive into what you should keep and for how long. We'll also give you suggestions on where to store documents, and when they are no longer needed, how to get rid of them.

What information do people need to access in emergency situations? A trip to the ER may require:  List of allergies, current medications, medical history, doctor contacts, family contacts, insurance information, photo identification. A fire or natural disaster may require: Identification documents, insurance documents, proof of ownership (such as deeds or titles), access to bank accounts for emergency cash, pet location information, medical information and family contact information. So where do you keep this information?  Is it accessible and is it secure?

Wills are one of those things in life that everyone knows they need, yet seem to hate or avoid making. When you make your Will, you are giving your family and loved ones a gift.