Life planning is making decisions for your future financial and healthcare needs. Your plans are saved as legal documents (or Advanced Directives) that your loved ones and doctors can follow if you ever become too ill to speak for yourself.
When you create life planning documents, you can specify how you want things like your healthcare and belongings to be handled. You can also choose people you trust to carry out your wishes if you are no longer able to do so yourself. Having these documents is a way to ensure that your needs are met as they change over time.
There are many different vital planning documents. This guide explains documents for:
- Making plans to pay bills and maintain your government benefits.
- Having trusted individuals to make important decisions about your healthcare.
- Informing doctors what type of medical care you desire.
- Planning where your money and belongings will go after you pass away.
- Planning what will happen to your body after you pass away.
Last Reviewed: March 28, 2024