3 Estate Planning Steps to Take When You Are Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

Selecting a health care surrogate

Breast cancer diagnosis, a life-altering event, affects physical well-being but also necessitates consideration of your financial and legal affairs. Estate planning is a crucial aspect of preparing for the uncertainties during and after your battle with breast cancer. We expect you to have questions. Consider three essential estate planning steps to help protect you, your family, and your legacy. Ensure that you have the right decision-maker, a health care surrogate, in place.

Responsibilities of the health care surrogate

The health care surrogate will make medical decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated and unable to communicate. Select a trusted individual to act as your health care surrogate to ensure that your medical preferences are honored. You may have specific treatment choices, such as the use of certain therapies or the avoidance of others. These should be respected even when you cannot express yourself. You need to select the person who will advocate for you should you be unable to.

Designating a health care surrogate can alleviate the burden on your loved ones during a difficult time. Without a choice, disputes among family members can arise, leading to stress and potentially delaying critical medical decisions for you. Appoint the right health care surrogate. Discuss your choices with your estate planning attorney and your potential agent to ensure they understand your preferences and values.

The estate planning attorney

Second, navigating the complexities of estate planning can be daunting, especially when you are dealing with a breast cancer diagnosis. An experienced Florida estate planning attorney can tailor your estate plan to address the challenges posed by your diagnosis. He can help you create a plan that considers potential healthcare costs, managing assets, and protecting your loved ones. If you already have an estate plan in place, it is essential to update it to reflect your current circumstances. Your estate planning attorney will help make the necessary revisions to accommodate changes in your health and financial situation. He will work alongside you to create a comprehensive plan that addresses all your concerns.

Third, and equally important while facing breast cancer, is ensuring both the financial security and well-being of your family and the preservation of your legacy. Estate planning offers various tools to address these concerns including, but not limited to, any of the following that you may discuss with your estate planning attorney:

Legacy documents.

Drafting a will or establishing trusts to allow you to determine how your assets are distributed after your passing, ensuring that your loved ones are provided for according to your wishes.

Life insurance.

Consider reviewing your life insurance policies and updating beneficiaries to provide financial support to your family if the worst should happen.

Living will.

Beyond your health care surrogate document, a living will can outline your end-of-life preferences, including the use of life support and organ donation, offering clarity and peace of mind.

Charitable giving.

If you have philanthropic goals, estate planning can facilitate charitable donations, allowing you to leave a legacy by supporting causes that matter to you.
We know that a breast cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but taking proactive estate planning steps can provide peace of mind and ensure your wishes are honored during and after your battle with the disease. We also know this article may raise more questions than it answers. Our Florida estate planning law firm takes a very different approach from what you might have come to expect. Our goal is to create lifelong relationships with each of our clients, to guide and manage your legacy for the rest of your life. Please contact our offices to learn more.

Law Offices of John Mangan, PA
Palm City – Stuart, FL
CALL: 1 (772) 218-0480

Do you question the need for attorney guidance with so many online resources? Because laws and regulations are complex, and because every person has a lot at risk, more people than ever are seeking professional guidance from an experienced, knowledgeable source. That helps explain the rapid growth of our firm. Whether you happened upon this website by accident or are one of the many referrals we receive from a nearly 15-year collection of satisfied clients, our staff can provide customized estate planning guidance for you. Call us. Our number: 1 (772) 218-0480

Written by: John Mangan, JD, MBA