A serious diagnosis makes incapacity planning urgent — not someday, right now.
Healthcare directives, durable power of attorney, and trust funding must be in place before cognitive or physical capacity is diminished. Once incapacity occurs, these documents cannot be signed. Courts step in instead.
What changes at the $2M–$30M level
Your action plan
Ordered by urgency. Items marked "Immediate" should be addressed within 2–4 weeks.
These documents must be signed while you have legal capacity. An attorney can often facilitate emergency signings within days.
Do this in My Wealth Maps →Assets held in your name — not the trust — will go through probate. Funding the trust now ensures your plan controls asset distribution.
Do this in My Wealth Maps →Confirm death benefit amounts, ILIT ownership structure if applicable, and that beneficiary designations are current.
Do this in My Wealth Maps →Annual exclusion gifts and lifetime exemption usage may be more urgent now. Consider whether irrevocable trust strategies should be executed sooner.
Do this in My Wealth Maps →Guardian designations, trust distributions, and specific bequests may need to reflect current family circumstances.
Find an estate attorney →How prepared are you for health diagnosis?
Answer 5 questions and get a personalized readiness score with specific gaps identified.
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An estate attorney can execute the legal documents and trust strategies this event requires.
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