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Dealing With Terminal Illness In The Family:
Things To Consider

Imagine that a family member has only months to live. 

When a loved one’s family is struggling with the emotional issues associated with end-of-life, it’s easy for them to overlook the important things that can be taken care of prior to death. 

What kinds of issues should be addressed in the final days?

• Get financial details in order.
• Gather specific information about life insurance, annuities, pensions, government benefits, investments and real estate.
• Make sure beneficiary designations and titling are correct.
• Make plans for creating needed liquidity to pay for final expenses and to take care of those left behind.

• Get estate distribution details together.
• Make sure all will and trust documents are up-to-date and legally adequate.
• Consider gifts to family members during lifetime to remove uncertainty later.
• Make sure proper plans are in place for the transfer of closely held business interests.

• Make final arrangements.
• Pre-pay or pre-arrange funeral.
• Make the arrangements about disposition of remains known.
• Consider a memorial fund.

• Seek to resolve unresolved family issues.
• Create a “forgive” and “seek forgiveness” checklist.
• Write or record messages for family members.

• Handle the details for health and end-of-life care.
• Monitor health insurance and government benefits.
• Make wishes about end-of-life sedation, life support and feeding/hydration known.
• Create needed power of attorney documents.

• Address spiritual issues.
• Identify the clergy the person wishes to see during the end-of-life process.
• Discuss potential spiritual activities the person wants to engage in.

The tasks and action steps are not a complete list of all the things that must be done when dealing with end-of-life. The checklist is meant as a general guide to which each should make his or her own order of priorities, and add or omit tasks that are more or less relevant to the dying person’s particular circumstances. 

If you ever find yourself involved in helping a family member face the final days, please let me know how I can help.

Please contact us at 504-212-3440 or estateplanning@lawealthplan.com to set up an appointment with Todd or Chip to discuss tax planning or other matters of financial concern.