Key Similarities between Preparing for a Hurricane and Estate Planning

As the hurricane season arrives, numerous Florida residents are engaging in the customary preparatory steps, a routine they follow annually. The legal experts at Nuñez Estate Law & Title extend their wishes for the progress of your preparations.

If you haven’t yet initiated your hurricane season preparations, we offer the following list of general planning recommendations:

• Accumulate an adequate supply of water and non-perishable items for yourself, your family, and your pets.
• Verify the functionality of your generator and ensure it has fuel.
• Refuel your vehicles.
• Acquire sandbags.
• Inspect your flashlights, batteries, and battery-operated radios.
• Keep a manual can opener accessible for canned goods.
• Obtain a portable cell phone charger.
• Refill prescription medications and assemble non-prescription first aid kits.
• Organize and collect crucial documents (such as estate planning and insurance documents) and place them in a portable container.
• Formulate an evacuation route and strategy.

The Resemblance between Hurricane Preparedness and Estate Planning

Preparing for a hurricane closely parallels the process of creating an estate plan. A comprehensive estate plan involves designating a Health Care Surrogate and establishing a Living Will. These “advance directives” allow you to express your preferences while you’re alive but incapacitated to communicate. They empower you to designate someone to make medical decisions and manage your financial matters on your behalf when you’re unable.

Incorporating these tools into your estate plan essentially communicates, “I hope the need for this plan never arises, but if it does, I’m ready.” By outlining your wishes and having a plan ready, you’re equipped ahead of adversity to ensure your loved ones can assist you through challenging times.

Special Circumstances

When preparing for hurricanes, additional considerations arise if your plan encompasses a special needs child or a disabled family member, like having an extra generator to power essential medical equipment.

Similarly, estate planning requires tailored approaches. A uniform strategy doesn’t fit all, especially for special needs or disabled relatives. For instance, leaving an inheritance directly to a loved one on government benefits might inadvertently cause them to lose those benefits, like Medicaid. Instead, proactive planning can secure their benefits while enhancing their quality of life.

Pets also warrant attention. Just as you plan for your pets during a hurricane, discussing arrangements for your pets’ care with your elder law attorney becomes vital if you were to pass away or become incapable of caring for them. This might entail designating a caregiver and potentially setting up funds for their care in a “pet trust.”

Contingency Planning

Sometimes, a storm strikes suddenly, compelling us to seek shelter urgently. Similar urgencies appear in elder law through “crisis planning.” These crises might stem from severe medical diagnoses or unforeseen hospitalizations.

Another crisis could arise when a family member necessitates long-term care, straining financial resources. This situation could swiftly deplete an elder’s savings, leaving their healthier spouse in a precarious financial state. Nuñez Estate Law & Title specializes in asset protection and Medicaid planning, offering tailored solutions when crises emerge unexpectedly.

Nuñez Estate Law & Title: Your Partner

Much like storm preparedness, it’s advisable to establish a foundational estate plan and update it periodically as a precaution. Keep in mind that your elder law attorney can aid in safeguarding your assets in advance and strategizing for potential crises down the line.

At the close of hurricane season, you might not have had to rely on your emergency supplies, yet you retain them for future use. Similarly, certain estate planning measures might not be immediately necessary, but others, such as your Last Will and Testament, will eventually prove invaluable.

We trust that you’re proactively securing both your hurricane preparations and estate planning, positioning yourself and your family to navigate any forthcoming challenges. Remember, if you decide to evacuate for a hurricane, ensure your original estate planning documents accompany you, as leaving them behind could lead to their destruction. Our office serves the entire state of Florida so call us at (305) 962-5929 to schedule a consultation to discuss your Real Estate and Title Insurance needs.