As 4th of July approaches and summer travel plans are underway, now is a good time to think beyond your itinerary. Whether you are travelling abroad or just a few hours away from home, taking a few important steps can help protect you and your loved ones if the unexpected happens. Before your next trip, consider these 5 planning tips:
1. Carry Emergency Medical Information
Make sure important medical information is readily available to help healthcare professionals provide appropriate care if an emergency occurs.
Consider carrying:
- A wallet-sized copy of your Health Care Proxy (keeping a picture of your Health Care Proxy on your mobile phone is a good idea as well)
- Health insurance information
- A list of current medications, dosages, and known allergies
- Information about existing medical conditions
2. Review Your Estate Plan
Take a moment to ensure your estate planning documents and beneficiary designations reflect your current wishes. Keeping these documents up to date can help ensure that trusted individuals can act on your behalf if necessary.
Review your:
- Last Will and Testament and/or Trust
- Health Care Proxy
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Beneficiary designations on assets such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies
3. Organize Key Documents and Information
Keep copies of important documents in a secure location that can be accessed by a trusted individual if needed.
This may include your:
- Your Will, Trust, Health Care Proxy, and Power of Attorney
- Health insurance cards and policy information
- Financial account details (i.e. list of bank and brokerage accounts, life insurance policies)
- Contact information for your attorney, financial advisor and accountant
4. Don’t Overlook Digital Information
When preparing for a trip, it’s easy to focus on physical documents and overlook the information stored on your electronic devices and online accounts.
Consider reviewing:
- Legacy Contact settings on devices and accounts
- Financial and banking online information
- Email and cloud storage accounts
- Digital copies of important documents
5. Notify Trusted Individuals and Loved Ones
Providing travel details to a trusted family member or friend can be invaluable if an unexpected situation arises.
Consider providing:
- Flight or transportation details
- Hotel information
- Travel dates and destinations
Travel with Confidence
While no one expects an emergency while on vacation, a little preparation can go a long way. By reviewing your estate plan, organizing important information, and communicating with trusted individuals before you travel, you can focus on enjoying your trip with greater peace of mind.
If you have questions about your estate plan or would like to review your planning documents before traveling, the team at Makofsky Valente Law Group, P.C. is here to help!
