7. Advance Care Directives:

• What It Is:

  • 1.  Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders: A specific directive that tells healthcare providers not to perform CPR if your heart stops or you stop breathing.

    2. Do Not Intubate (DNI) Orders: Specifies that you do not want to be put on a ventilator if you can’t breathe on your own.

    3. Organ Donation Preferences: Some advance directives allow you to specify whether you wish to donate your organs after death.

    4. HIPAA Authorization: This can allow your healthcare agent to access your medical records to make informed decisions. Without it, your loved ones may struggle to get access to critical medical information due to privacy laws.

• Why You Need It:

  • Clarity of your wishes for your loved ones: Advance directives remove the burden of difficult medical end-of-life care decisions from your family or loved ones to prevent unnecessary suffering or medical treatments you may not want.

  • Ensures Your Wishes Are Followed: Without advance directives, medical decisions may be made based on hospital protocols or state laws, which might not align with your personal preferences.

  • Peace of Mind: Knowing that your healthcare choices are documented provides peace of mind for both you and your family.

  • Helps avoid family disputes and ensures that healthcare providers follow your treatment preferences.

8. Beneficiary Designations

• What It Is: Forms used to designate beneficiaries for certain accounts like life insurance policies, retirement accounts (401(k), IRA), and payable-on-death bank accounts.

• Why You Need It:

  • Supersedes a Will: Beneficiary designations take precedence over what’s written in your will, making it essential to keep them updated.

  • Ensures that certain assets transfer directly to your chosen beneficiaries without going through probate.

9. Guardianship Designations

• What It Is: Included in your will, this names a guardian to care for your minor children if you die while they are still underage.

• Why You Need It:

  • Ensures that your children are cared for by someone you trust, rather than leaving the decision to the court.

  • It’s one of the most important aspects of an estate plan for parents of young children.

10. Letter of Intent (Optional)

• What It Is: A non-legally binding document that provides additional instructions for your loved ones or the executor of your estate. It can include personal messages, funeral preferences, or detailed information about how you want certain items distributed.

• Why You Need It:

  • While not legally enforceable, it gives personal and practical guidance to your heirs and can help reduce confusion or disputes.

11. Codicil 

• What It Is: A legal document used to make amendments or changes to an existing will without having to rewrite the entire document. It serves as an update to the original will, allowing the testator (the person who made the will) to modify certain provisions, add new ones, or revoke parts of the will while keeping the original will intact. 

• Why You Need It:

• Change Executors or Trustees: If you want to appoint a new executor or trustee, a codicil allows you to make this adjustment without rewriting the entire will.

• Add or Remove Beneficiaries: You can use a codicil to add new beneficiaries or remove those who are no longer relevant, ensuring your will reflects your current wishes.

• Update Asset Distributions: If you've acquired new assets or sold assets mentioned in the original will, a codicil allows you to adjust specific bequests accordingly.

• Address Life Changes: Life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child may require updates to your will, and a codicil provides a simple way to reflect those changes.