Aging with Intention

Planning for future medical care means thinking about who should make decisions for you and what kind of care you'd want if you were ever unable to speak for yourself. An advance directive helps you put those wishes in writing before a medical emergency or serious illness occurs. An advance directive is a legal document, or set of documents, used to communicate your healthcare preferences and, in many cases, identify someone who can make medical decisions for you if you can't

A living trust is a legal arrangement you create during your lifetime to hold and manage assets according to your instructions. It's commonly used as part of estate planning to organize property, plan for the possibility of incapacity, and determine how assets should be handled after death. One reason living trusts appeal to people is that you can often create a revocable living trust, serve as its trustee, and continue managing your assets much as you do now. You establish i

A trust is a legal arrangement that allows someone to place assets under the care of a person or organization to manage for the benefit of someone else. Depending on how it's created, a trust can be used to manage money, distribute property, provide for family members, or carry out specific instructions during your lifetime or after your death. Trusts are often associated with wealthy families, but they can serve a variety of purposes. Someone might use a trust to manage an i

A last will and testament is a legal document that explains what you want to happen to your money, property, and belongings after you die. It can also name the person you want to handle your estate and, if you have minor children, identify who you'd want to care for them. You don't have to be wealthy to need a will. A home, a bank account, a vehicle, personal belongings, or family heirlooms are all reasons to think about how your property should be handled. A will gives you a

Thinking about medical care at the end of life isn't always easy, but making your wishes known ahead of time can help you maintain a say in your care if you're ever unable to speak for yourself. A living will is a legal document that records your preferences for certain medical treatments if you become unable to communicate your decisions and meet the conditions specified in the document and applicable law. It's often associated with end-of-life care, particularly situations

A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows someone you choose to handle certain matters on your behalf. Depending on the authority you grant, that person may be able to manage your finances, handle property transactions, or make healthcare decisions if you're unable to make them yourself. The person granting the authority is called the principal. The person receiving it is called the agent or attorney-in-fact. Despite the name, your agent doesn't have to be a l