Summer is in full swing and many of us are planning vacations – maybe it’s a local holiday to New England’s beaches or the mountains, or possibly something that requires air travel, like a trip to the west coast or “across the pond” to Europe. Before you leave, take some time to review your estate plan and other important items in case you experience an emergency.
Include these items to your checklist before you leave:
1. Do you have your Health Care Proxy and Durable Power of Attorney documents in place?
- If so, are the people you have asked to be in these important positions still the ones that you want named?
- Do you know where your documents are kept and/or who your legal counsel is?
2. Does your Last Will and Testament and/or Trust documents need to be updated?
- Has there been a change in circumstances in your family/support system that affects who you want to receive your estate upon your death?
- If you have minor children, do you have a guardian named?
- If yes, is it still the person you want to be in this important position for you?
3. Use this time to check and be sure that you have adequate automobile coverage should you have an accident – whether driving your own car or a rental.
4. If you are traveling out of the country, make sure you understand how your medical insurance will work – what it will cover and what it will not.
5. Review the beneficiaries on your life insurance policies and your retirement plans to be sure that they are still reflecting your wishes.
- If you have named your spouse as the primary beneficiary and the two of you are traveling together, be sure that you have named contingent beneficiaries as well.
Use the time before your vacation wisely. Making sure that everything is in order will get you well on your way to ensuring the rest and relaxation you deserve.
Founded by a nurse attorney and with offices in Acton, Sudbury, and Andover, Massachusetts, Generations Law Group helps families navigate the complex areas of estate planning, elder law, and probate to inform and protect loved ones of every generation.
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