Preparing for the unexpected isn’t something most of us like to think about. There is something slightly macabre about talking issues relating to death and what to do should something change the way you live your life. But despite it not being a comfortable topic, it is an important one to discuss with your loved ones before the time comes when it is needed.
Photo by John-Mark Smith on Unsplash
There are many things to discuss and arrange in the event of death or a life-changing injury and it goes to say that should this happen, this isn’t something you want to be thinking about at a time like that. There is a peace of mind associated with being prepared and there are a few ways you can do this to be ready for a life-changing event before it happens.
Legalize Everything
Making a will so you know exactly what will happen to your assets once you are no longer here to do so yourself can mean a huge burden is lifted off your shoulders. If you own any property you want to know what will happen to it, especially if you have children who may or even want to still be living there. So consulting with an estate planning attorney can help you put things in motion to make sure everything is taken care of should the worst happen.
This will also come in handy for anything else you have specific requests for including finances. This is the easiest way to make your feelings known and your wishes carried out.
Plan Ahead
It may seem like a waste of time but look at putting plans into motion now. Such as making a will as we mentioned above, will help give you and your family peace of mind ahead of time. Look at things such as making custody arrangements, nest eggs for children or even funeral plans. Less than 22% of Americans have pre-arranged funeral plans in place as of 2017 despite over 62% feeling that discussing plans in the event of an unexpected event is a good idea. This will all help your loved ones in their time of grief as they will know your wishes and have less to worry about.
A great way to prepare for the future is to look at taking out life insurance. We insure our homes, our cars, our electronic devices, but we always fall short at making sure we protect ourselves. Life insurance can be invaluable at a time when uncertainty is the biggest factor and our lives are up in the air. Giving your family peace of mind that there is something to help them during their darkest days is one of the best ways to prepare for the unexpected.
So make sure to open the lines of communication with those around you and in your lives. Whilst you may know what you want to happen in the event of an awful tragedy, others may not be so sure. Take some time to make sure you are on the same page and know what you want when it comes to protecting your family.
