Estate plans aren’t just oriented around what will happen after you are gone. One of the important parts of any Illinois estate plan is a plan for incapacity. This can be invaluable for your family in the event that you ever become incapable of making important decisions about your finances and health.
Living wills and health directives
There are several documents that are used to help you prepare for different aspects of incapacity. To begin with, it’s a good idea to have a living will or advance healthcare directive. An advance healthcare directive or living will outlines what types of medical care and treatment you want or do not want, especially end-of-life medical care and treatment. It can also be used to name an agent to make medical decisions for you in the event that you become unable to do so yourself, due to injury or illness.
Powers of attorney
Another document you may wish to include is a power of attorney. This allows you to give someone the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf. These documents come in different varieties. For instance, you may give power of attorney over your medical affairs, your financial affairs, or both.
When thoroughly done, estate planning can help you rest assured you will be taken care of if you are incapacitated. It also saves your loved ones a lot of trouble and uncertainty, because you have already settled some important questions long in advance. Those who are considering drafting a will or trust can learn more about incapacity plans by speaking with an experienced estate planning attorney.