Legal
Put Your Wishes in Writing.
Choose Who Will Speak for You.
None of us knows what tomorrow may bring.
An unexpected accident. A serious diagnosis. A hospitalization. An illness that leaves you unable to communicate. Or simply the realities that come with aging.
In those moments, the people who love you may want to help—but wanting to help and having the legal authority to help are not always the same thing.
That is why planning ahead matters.
Be Brave Now helps individuals and families understand the importance of putting their wishes in place before a crisis occurs and connecting with the appropriate legal professionals when personalized legal advice is needed.
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Who Will Speak for You?
If you become unable to make your own healthcare decisions, who do you want making those decisions for you?
A Health Care Proxy allows you to name a trusted person, your health care agent, to make medical decisions on your behalf when you are unable to make them yourself. Your agent should understand your values, your wishes, and the kind of care you would or would not want. (New York State Attorney General)
Choosing your agent is about more than choosing the person you love most.
It is about choosing someone who can speak for you when you cannot speak for yourself.
Who Will Handle Your Finances and Affairs?
A Power of Attorney can allow someone you trust to act on your behalf regarding financial, property, tax, banking and other legal matters, depending on the authority granted in the document. A durable power of attorney can continue during incapacity. (New York State Attorney General)
Consider:
■ Who could manage your finances if you couldn’t?
■ Who could pay your bills?
■ Who could communicate with your financial institutions?
■ Who could handle your property or other important affairs?
■ Does the person you choose understand the responsibility?
■ Have you discussed your wishes with them?
Your financial agent does not have to be the same person as your health care agent. (New York State Attorney General)
What Happens to Your Estate?
A Will allows you to express how you want certain assets handled after your death and who you want to receive them.
Estate planning can also involve other documents and strategies depending on your circumstances, including trusts, beneficiary designations and other legal planning tools.
The goal isn’t simply to distribute possessions.
It’s to reduce confusion, minimize unnecessary conflict, and give your loved ones clear direction about what you intended.
Have the Difficult Conversations Now
Legal documents are important.
The conversations behind them may be even more important.
Tell the people you have chosen:
“I chose you because I trust you.”
Then tell them what matters to you.
■ What does quality of life mean to you?
■ What would you want if you could no longer communicate?
■ What are your wishes regarding life-sustaining treatment?
■ Who should be contacted?
■ Where are your important documents?
■ What do you want your family to know?
New York State specifically recommends discussing your wishes with your health care agent, loved ones and healthcare providers and reviewing your advance directives periodically. (New York State Department of Health)
Don’t Wait Until You’re in the Hospital
The worst time to begin figuring out who can make decisions for you is when a crisis has already happened.
Be Brave Now encourages you to plan while you have the ability to make your own choices.
We can help you identify the questions you should be asking and connect you with appropriate professionals—including attorneys who can provide individualized legal advice.
Your Be Brave Now Legal Planning Conversation
Before meeting with an attorney, consider:
■ Do I have a current Will?
■ Have I appointed a Health Care Proxy/Health Care Agent?
■ Have I named an alternate health care agent?
■ Do I have a Power of Attorney appropriate for my needs?
■ Do the people I’ve chosen know that I chose them?
■ Have I discussed my wishes with them?
■ Do I have written instructions about important healthcare wishes?
■ Have I reviewed my beneficiary designations?
■ Do my loved ones know where my documents are?
■ Have I reviewed my documents after major life changes?
■ Have I spoken with an attorney about whether my documents are appropriate for my state and circumstances?
BE BRAVE NOW.
Don’t leave the people you love guessing.
Your life.
Your wishes.
Your voice.
Your choices.
Put them in place while you can.
Be Brave Now provides education and resources to help individuals and families prepare. We do not provide legal advice or replace an attorney. Laws and requirements vary by state. For individualized legal advice, consult a qualified attorney licensed in your state.