Don't Leave Your Loved Ones In the Lurch!! The importance of creating medical directives and other legal documents prior to a medical emergency. by Melissa Rivers

The last thing I remember is being told, "Not to worry; you'll be up and bouncing by this time tomorrow. This is really no big deal." He grinned at me, so I didn’t worry and tried my best to smile back at the surgeon as I drifted out. Oh boy, was I wrong. Well, learning the hard way seems to be the only way I really learn my lessons.

I finally awoke from the coma two-and-a-half weeks later -- simple appendectomy my foot! It was during the next week recuperating in the hospital that I learned just how hard it had been on my family. Mind you, I had drawn up a simple medical directive, but nobody seemed to know where it was located. To make matters worse, I had completely failed to establish all the other legal documents that would have guided my loved one's on my behalf. In addition to worrying whether or not I would survive, they were left fretting over my business interests, home and other assets; it was too much to deal with under stress.

The first real project I undertook after finally being released from the hospital was to establish the legal documents that should have in place ahead of time. A simple healthcare directive, or just telling a loved one your wishes, is not enough. It took me less than an hour, with the guidance of legal software, to draw up some very important documents -- a Financial Power of Attorney, a Medical Power of Attorney, and an updated Medical Directive to Physicians.

Have your attorney draft the legal documents if you wish, but be aware that it's very easy to do-it-yourself, not to mention far cheaper. You can purchase legal software as I did (Nolo's Quicken Personal Lawyer Deluxe 2002, available at computer stores and at www.nolo.com). In addition to Power of Attorney, such software usually covers Living Trusts, Wills, Executor Documents, and a variety of other legal forms for daily use. Look for inexpensive, slightly outdated versions at www.half.com or your local used bookstore.

Another option is to go online and pay a low fee (typically less than $10/form) to fill out interactive forms that will guide you through printing out the completed legal documents on your own equipment at home. Here are a few web sites that can help:

www.legalzoom.com

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BIO:

Melissa Rivers has been a freelance writer for 17 years. She has written for Random House and Prentice Hall, articles for numerous national and local magazines, and an array of interactive articles for a variety of online e-zines. For the past few years her focus has switched from travel writing to senior issues. She edited How To Find Great Senior Housing, written by Phyllis Staff, PhD, and is a contributor to www.thebestisyet.net which focuses on the issues of caring for older adults.

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