This is a topic that a lot of us choose to remain silent about. Death. Yes, we ALL will be facing that five-letter word eventually. Do you have a plan in place for your loved ones once you are gone? Do you have a plan in place even if for some unforeseen reason you become incapacitated and unable to speak or make decisions for yourself? If you do have a plan in place, do your loved ones know where to retrieve this information?

As someone who has worked in the medical field for 30+ years, I have transcribed and seen thousands of patient medical records and it saddens me to see so many patients who become either suddenly ill or suffer a long-term illness but do not have a plan in place or assigned a loved one to take carry out your wishes once you have passed on. Or, what’s even worse than that, patients who become ill and certain family members disown them and now that patient has become a ward of the state – meaning now that this patient has become so sick, certain family members have abandoned them and now SOMEONE has to speak on behalf of this patient, but unfortunately, that someone is the probate court system (in the state the patient resides). Either a social worker (representing a particular hospital) or chaplain or again the court system has to now become the guardian of this very ill patient because that patients loved ones want nothing else to do with them!

We’re living in an age and time where there is NO excuse that this is still happening! There are so many valuable resources out here for us to educate ourselves on. Even if you’re that mean, grumpy, most hated person ever to where you don’t have a friend in the world, this still does not give you a reason to not have some type of plan in place [even if you choose to utilize probate court] for your legacy you may have created all the way to the finest detail of where you want your remains to go to.

Losing a loved one is stressful and traumatizing enough. Not having a plan creates more stress and anxiety for those that cared about you. When certain loved ones come to you to try and talk about this when you’re healthy and still mentally competent and you still refuse to discuss it or continue to procrastinate by putting off these plans, this is what I consider unintelligent, foolish and downright selfish! We waste a lot of time (and money) on trivial things, things that are not uplifting us or things that don’t really matter.

Your last wishes or plans for your assets/possessions left behind do not have to be some elaborate, expensive or over-the-top plan – just something straight to the point and simple and making sure whomever you assign it over to that they know exactly where to go to get your information and the instructions you have left for them to carry out.

No matter your choice, whether a Last Will and Testament, an Advance Directive, or Power of Attorney (for Healthcare) or whatever legitimate legal document is out there for your specific needs, please get a plan in place NOW for your wishes and always let someone know your plans for storing this information so they will not be in a panic, distressed or ill-prepared. Maybe you have a plan in place but it’s been years since you’ve updated your information, beneficiaries, passwords, etc. Take the time to review this information and always keep it updated.

Let’s go into 2025 not wasting any more money or wasteful time. Instead of partying for every holiday, eating yourself sick, etc. etc., take that money and spend it on legalizing your last will and testament and making your loved ones feel a little more at ease, knowing you’ve taken full responsibility of your life as well as in your passing. Today is a good day to start!