A Will is NOT Going to Spare You and Your Family This Pain

When most people think of estate planning, they think about planning for their death. They usually think of a will. However, a will is NOT going to have any impact on your healthcare in the event you become unable to make your own decisions. It is vital that you work with an attorney to develop a comprehensive plan for your healthcare. I always tell my clients that my first job is to make sure they are taken care of during life then we talk about what happens if anything is left after they pass.

Today’s heartbreaking story is about Jack and his physical pain as well as the emotional pain of his children.

Jack has two adult kids.  Jack and his daughter Jenny both live in Missouri.  Jack’s son Jake lives in Colorado. 

Jack suffers a stroke and is placed in the ICU.  Jack is conscious but the doctors determine that he is incapacitated (cannot legally make his own decisions).  His daughter Jenny rushes to the hospital and stays by her dad’s side. 

The caregivers place Jack on a feeding tube.  Jack pulls the tube out.  Jenny instructs the hospital staff to replace it.  It is quite heartbreaking to watch Jack struggle when they replace the tube.  Jack pulls it out again.  Jenny again instructs the staff to replace it even though Jack is physically resisting. 

Jack’s son Jake hears of these occurrences and is heartbroken, but he is in Colorado.  He has no legal authority to make any healthcare decisions for dad and is not physically at the hospital.  This struggle continues with Jenny asserting her wishes, not dad’s, until dad finally passes a few days later. 

All of this could have been avoided with simple planning ahead of time. 

We would love to assist you in preparing a plan that gives you peace of mind that your loved ones will be cared for and your wishes will be honored. 

If you are ready to take action to save your family from the costs, stress, and emotional turmoil of a failure to plan (or an outdated plan that fails when you need it), use the following calendar link to book your Estate Planning Session: https://mklegalplanning.as.me/estate-planning-session

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