I’m sorry to hear that you are chronically ill. I’m sure you have a lot to take care of, and you may have begun making plans for writing your will. But please remember, there is more to estate planning than only a will or trust. You need to consider your long-term care – who will help and how you will pay for it. There are special considerations to estate planning when you are chronically ill.
Most people know you should have a will or trust, but a strong estate plan includes more. You don’t have to only plan for your assets after you pass. You also want to think about your care if you become incapacitated.
At the very least, an estate plan should include the following:
But it may also include a residuary clause, an in-case-of-emergency list or a revocable living trust. You must decide what is essential and what is most needed in your unique situation.
The legal definition of a chronically ill person is someone unable to perform, without substantial assistance from another individual, at least 2 daily activities – including eating, transferring, bathing, dressing and more. A doctor must confirm that you are chronically ill before services such as social security may help you. Chronic illness differs from estate planning with a terminal diagnosis but still has its own hurdles.
And for your will to be valid, you will want a doctor to affirm that you are in good mental health and not impaired when creating your estate plan.
Preparing your estate plan while fighting a chronic illness can be difficult. Still, you will want to work with an experienced estate attorney who can ensure you are doing all you can to prepare for your final days and after you pass away.
Now is the time to create your estate plan or update an existing one. To do this, call the attorneys at Estate & Probate Legal Group in Illinois to help you get your estate plan in order. Contact us today at 630-864-5835.
AREAS WE SERVE: DuPage, Kane, Lake and Will counties.
