Scared to Death of Death The Important Things We Postpone

Scared to Death of Death The Important Things We Postpone No one wants to discuss death, and yet we’re all going to dieâ€"obviously. Which makes for an irksome paradox. What’s worse is we often refuse to discuss important topics surrounding death, such as burial plans, cremation, living wills, and the like. The younger we are, the more we pretend the inevitable isn’t inevitable. And so we live our daily lives with these worries in the back of our minds, uncertain what will happen if we get sick, if we die unexpectedly, if we become unconscious and can no longer make decisions for ourselves. But that could never happen to me! we think, knowing full well it could, and it might. Young or old, we’re all one brief moment away from a disaster. We neednt  be afraid, thoughâ€"just prepared. I was unprepared for many, many years. Recently, though, I took worry by the hand and faced the fact that, at any time, I’m a moment away from death. So I decided to plan accordingly by obtaining or updating the following: Living will. A living will, also known as an Advance Health Care Directive or Advance Medical Directive, is a legal document that provides your family, doctors, and caregivers with information about what life-saving measures you wish to be taken should there come a time when you are unable to communicate your wishes. Last will and testament. A last will and testament is a legal document that dictates what happens to your estate once you pass away. If you have a complicated estate, it’s best to have an attorney help you write your last will and testament so you can ensure your estate is settled appropriately. If your situation is relatively straightforward, you can draft your own last will and testament, which will save you attorney fees. It’s best to learn about the components of a last will and testament, and how to ensure yours is legally viable. Power of attorney. As an independent adult, it’s important for you to have a willâ€"but you must also consider a power of attorney. This document legally allows a person you select to be in charge of your financial matters (such as conducting bank transactions and investing money), property matters (such as management of property), and other legal situations (such as operating a small business). A power of attorney is not only used in cases of disability and illness, but also in cases where you can’t be somewhere to sign a legal document. Organ donor. See my essay about the importance of becoming an organ donor: Here, Have an Organ. Although I want to live for a long time, my deathbed ducks are now in a row. Even better, I’m free of the worry regarding those plans. There are other documents and considerations to consider, but the four listed above are a great start toward calm waters and a calm mind. I used LegalZoom for some of the above documents, as well as for other basic legal documents. There are also free online resources like WikiHow that can point you in the right direction. For more complex tax or legal matters, I seek the counsel of my CPA or attorney. If you find value in The Minimalists, consider donating a dollar.