Making your end-of-life plans now is a gift to the loved ones you leave behind.

While in the throes of intense grief, loved ones are too often forced to sort through a mess of paperwork, passwords, belongings and the differing opinions of family members. Organizing affairs in advance allows loved ones to be sure they are taking care of you and what belongs to you the in the ways that you wish, keeping their focus on the grief of losing you.

We’ve all heard a story of a person who hadn’t done their plans or left their plans in disarray. We all hope to live long, happy lives, and statistically, many of us will. But unplanned accidents and diagnosis happen too. End-of-life plans protect those at your bedside from disagreements over what healthcare decisions they think you may want. It saves loved ones hours of work and sometimes thousands of dollars navigating accounts, passwords, paperwork and payments. In some scenarios, you may even be able to be the author of your own, beautifully crafted, goodbye to this earth. I recommend completing your end-of-life plans far in advance of retirement age, or at the birth of a first child.

Advanced planning is even more crucial for folks who may be estranged from their family of origin, part of the LGBTQ+ community, or victims of religious trauma. You have the right to choose who makes your end-of-life decisions and carries on your legacy, but those decisions must be documented.

Creating peace of mind can be possible within an impossible situation. It is never too early to start planning for end-of-life. Please don’t let it be too late.