Are you looking forward to traveling this summer? Are you planning a vacation including spending time with family and friends and enjoying time outdoors. Are you staying at home? Are you traveling to another state or out of the country? Now that the pandemic has lessened in its impact, the travel choices seem endless.
As you plan your summer vacation, are you traveling with your minor children or grandchildren on a trip? Are you making sure that their days are planned with adventures? Or are you in need of an adventure, or just getting a change of scenery or traveling to an exotic place with your loved ones? As you begin to plan your summer travel there is a lot to consider, but have you included your Alabama estate planning to your action list? It may not have crossed your mind initially, but it should be on your action list as you begin to prepare. On our blog below, we want to share an Alabama estate planning checklist for you to review before your summer adventure begins. With our recommendations you will be able to travel with peace of mind.
1. Make plans for your mail to be picked up. Did you know that your neighbors and friends do not have the legal authority to pick up your mail while you are on your summer vacation? However, under your Alabama durable power of attorney, your agent would have the authority to get your mail if you were out of town.
2. Make plans to have access to money, cash, and your bank accounts. What should you do if you need money while you are on vacation? Or you need to make bank transfers? Or you need to act on a business transaction or sell a piece of property? Again, your agent, under your Alabama durable power of attorney, can be given the legal authority to handle these transactions on your behalf, and even work with your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney to make sure it is handled correctly.
3. Be sure that health care decisions can be made. Who would make your healthcare decisions if you were injured, unconscious, or seriously harmed to the point where you are incapacitated and not able to make decisions for yourself? Your healthcare planning in your Alabama advanced directives will enable you to identify not only a primary person to act in your place, but alternative choices in the event they are unable to act.
4. Be sure to have plans for the care of your kids and your pets. If your children and pets are not accompanying you on your vacation you need to decide who will have the legal authority to care for your kids and your pets. Make this important decision as soon as possible. In addition, you will need to decide if this is temporary care or if this person could be a legal custodian should something serious happen to you.
5. Be sure to have travel insurance. Be aware that most summer travel has the opportunity to be covered by travel insurance. Just like we mentioned above with other circumstances, the travel insurance company is not going to speak with someone who does not have legal authority to act on your behalf. Your Alabama advanced directives will be a significant help should your travel insurance policy need to be activated by someone other than yourself.
6. Be sure to have a plan for an emergency. While traveling, if something serious happens to you, your Alabama estate plan will hold all the details of what to do. With the guidance of your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney, your agent and your personal representative can work with your attorney to make sure your goals for your person and your legacy are met.
In closing, be sure to ask your experienced Alabama estate planning attorney what estate planning documents to bring with you on your summer vacation.
We know this article may raise more questions than it answers. At the end of the day, estate planning and elder law planning are not just for you. Instead, it is for the ones you love most. If we can answer any questions for you on putting this estate planning in place, please do not hesitate to let us know. For more information, please
reach out to our office and schedule a time to meet.