It’s not easy to think about making difficult decisions at the end of your life. But if you’re unable to speak for yourself, it becomes much more difficult for your loved ones to handle these questions, too. 
Meeting with an estate planning attorney often begins by completing a questionnaire or an inventory about things that are important to you and assets you own. They may suggest one or more documents as a result of what you have expressed is important and the kind of assets in your ownership. Here are some of the following documents that may be suggested by an attorney and what they mean:
- Organ and tissue donor designations that you would like to make upon your death where appropriate.
- A last will and testament that determines what happens to your minor children and how your assets will be handled after you pass.
- Power of attorney documents that appoint someone else to make important decisions on your behalf with regard to medical or financial concerns if you are incapacitated and unable to do so.
- A living will which explains your medical decisions in the event that you cannot speak for yourself.
- A living trust which helps to manage your asset and estate, both while you’re living and after you pass away.
Your attorney can help advise you about when these specific situations make sense and what materials should be gathered or questions answered before beginning the estate planning process. The sooner you speak to a lawyer the easier it is to protect your interests and the people you care about in your life.
