Important Documents To Have As You Age
There are a number of things we are expected to do as we age–having all of our legal documents in order is one of them. But do you know which documents it includes? It can feel overwhelming to figure out which documents are vital to have as we age, along with where to go to get them and how to fill them out. However, acquiring and organizing all of this important paperwork now will help you (and your loved ones) be better prepared in the future.
What Documents Do I Need?
The documents you’ll need vary depending on your assets, medical history, and personal choices. In simple terms, anything you’d consider a personal, legal, financial, or medical document should be organized and placed somewhere safe. You should ensure someone you trust knows how to access these documents in the event that you can’t.
Personal Documents
Personal documents are any government-issued documents you’ve had throughout your life. Many of these documents are essential for proof of identity. They can include:
- Birth certificate
- Social security card
- Passport
- ID/driver’s license
Legal Documents
Your legal documents will be documents you’ve prepared with a lawyer or legal team that outline legal protocols or procedures to take place once you’ve passed or can no longer make decisions for yourself. A few common legal documents you may need include:
- Will: This document outlines what you want to happen to your assets and property once you pass.
- Living Trust: This document helps protect assets and allows you to distribute your possessions after your death. Trusts are more flexible than wills and can be enacted before your death.
Legal documents must be created with a lawyer. If you don’t have these documents, consider hiring an elder law lawyer. These lawyers specialize in helping seniors and families with estate planning, wills, trusts, power of attorney, and other legal concerns specific to seniors.
Financial Documents
Financial documents are any official documents from your bank or financial advisor regarding your finances. Common financial documents include:
- Bank information
- 40K
- Social security
- Credit cards
- Loans
- Investments
- Tax returns
- Home deeds and vehicle titles
Financial documents can be complex, especially if you have a lot of income or investments. If you don’t have finances organized or know how to ensure you’re making the most of your finances, you should consider working with a financial advisor or wealth advisor.
Medical Documents
Medical documents are any official documents from a hospital regarding your health, medications, or treatments. While not official medical documents, having a list of prescriptions and doctor contact information in an emergency is also helpful.
- A list of prescription medications
- A list of doctors and their contact information
- Any medical information from doctors about your medical history and treatments
How Visiting Angels Can Help
Visiting Angels Rockwall is a locally owned and operated home care agency that assists seniors with non-medical tasks so they can continue living safely at home. We provide light housekeeping, medication reminders, meal preparation, personal grooming assistance, and more. We can also help locate personal documents or schedule appointments with financial and legal consultants to help clients find and prepare essential documents.
Contact our Rockwall office to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn more about at-home care services with Visiting Angels.