Finding out that you have a potentially terminal illness can be very scary. There are many people who get scared and overwhelmed when they get this type of news because they do not know what steps to take next. It is essential to get your affairs in order when you find out that you may be terminally sick to ensure that you do not make life more difficult for your friends and family.
Properly planning for your potential passing ensures that things are done the way that you want them to be done and that your family is able to have the time they need to grieve without worrying about doing things the way that they think you want them done. You will need to hire an attorney to ensure that everything is put into writing so that it is legally binding.
If you have recently found out that you have a disease that may be terminal, use the following guide to learn how to properly prepare for any negative situations that could arise along the way.
Determine Who You Trust to Make Medical Decisions on Your Behalf
There are times when someone battling a terminal disease finds themselves needing to make a hard medical decision on the spot. If a surgeon needs to adjust the surgery while you are sedated, the person that you choose to make the medical decisions for you will be able to let the surgeon know if they can make the possibly life-saving adjustment or not.
This person will have medical power of attorney over your medical decisions should you not be able to make the decisions yourself. If you are in your right state of mind and are able to understand what a doctor is saying to you, you will be able to make the ultimate decisions for your health. The medical power of attorney is just an extra step that ensures you get the care you need.
Determine Who Will Handle Your Finances
When someone battles a terminal illness, there are many times when they have to stay in the hospital for weeks or even months at a time. If something happens and you end up becoming incapacitated, you will need someone to handle your finances for you so that your bills can still be paid.
The person will have durable power of attorney over your estate. They will not be able to spend your finances however they please. Within the durable power of attorney, you can dictate what the money can be used for and the person will have to track where the money goes so that it is not spent inappropriately.
Determine Who Will Care for Your Children
When you are battling the illness, there will be times when you cannot provide your children with the care that they will need. Establish who you think would be able to provide your children appropriate care in your absence. You need to be sure that they are willing to take on the task before you make arrangements for them to take guardianship of your children if need be.
You need to talk to your children about the situation as well. Being surprised later on down the road that something is wrong could lead to animosity from your children and make it difficult for them to handle the situation in a healthy way.
If you have been diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness, contact Clara Yang Attorney At Law to get your affairs in order. Be sure to give the contact information for your attorney to your loved ones so that they can get in touch with him or her quickly and easily when needed.
