Throughout our lives, we all make plans for major decisions regarding education and career, as well as events such as travel, marriage, having children, and retirement.  But how many of us take time to plan for our death?  to provide vital information in order to make things easier for our loved ones?

Death planning is the ultimate loving act.  Even if we would prefer not to think about our death, our planning for it is an important gift to those we leave behind.

As with most plans, it's best to start with an outline.  Here is a list of some things you will need to include in your plan:

1. a will containing instructions for disposition of your personal property
2. a personal letter of instruction for your family or estate administrator
3.  an AZ health Care Power of Attorney and Proxy
4.  a General Power of Attorney
5.  an Arizona Do Not Resuscitate Order (DNR)
6.  an AZ Beneficiary Deed for home and car
7.  real property and credit/financial account information
8.  vital statistics for death certificate

Support for the legalities of 1, 3, 4, 5,and 6 can be obtained from a lawyer, paralegal or online.  Items 2 and 7 are yours to create.  Item 8 is a free resource from FCACA titled My End of Life Plan (click to download).

You may use this as your end of life planning check list.  We suggest that you commit to completing at least one item each month and, most importantly, let your loved ones know where they can find these completed items.  Leaving them with a lawyer or in a safe deposit box means that your family will not have immediate access when necessary.

You should make copies and give them to those who care about you.

Your FCACA advisors are ready to help.  Call 480-929-9659 send an email to fca@fcaofcentralaz.org.