Via Nappy.co
According to USC, only 12% of Black families are familiar with end-of-life planning.
For those who are, there are many misconceptions. Some think it’s just for rich people, or is only necessary once someone is seriously ill. These are untrue!
Lori Douglass, an attorney, explains: “Estate planning is much bigger than ‘You get this after I die.’”
Whatever your income, age, or health status, it’s CRUCIAL to plan for the unexpected. Estate planning empowers your family, not doctors or courts, to make necessary decisions.
According to “Get Your House In Order,” an advocacy organization, there are five important documents to prepare:
- A Health Care Proxy gives a loved one the power to make health care decisions.
- A Living Will expresses your desires in case something unexpected happens to you.
- A Power of Attorney gives a loved one the right to make legal decisions for you.
- Your Last Will & Testament states how your property, guardianship, and funeral should be handled.
- A Trust explains how you want any property to be managed.
You don’t have to be able to afford an attorney to get these documents. Check out LegalZoom.com for support!
If the unthinkable happens, you don’t want your loved ones to be burdened by financial concerns while they’re mourning. We never know what can happen - make sure your family is protected!