Have you accumulated any wealth in your life? If so, you have an estate that can be properly managed to give you control over what happens to your wealth when you die. The possessions and assets that make up your estate include your life insurance, investments, cars, and furniture. No matter the size of your estate, it's highly recommended that you create a robust estate plan to protect your wealth and your family.

Any conversation about planning for incapacitation or death is uncomfortable for many people, especially if you are having the discussion with your parents. It is important to remember however, that this discussion while uncomfortable will spare you additional stress and pain when you and your family are going through a crisis.

The California EMS Authority along with the California Medical Association and EMS providers in California developed a PreHospital Do Not Resuscitate DNR Form to instruct EMS to not provide resuscitative measure for patients having a heart attack. This would include CPR, assisted breathing, intubation, defibrillation and drugs to stimulate the heart. It does NOT include treatment for pain, difficulty breathing such as an obstructed airway or asthma treatment, or major bleeding, etc. The form must be signed by the patient or their healthcare decision-maker and be CLEARLY posted or maintained with the patient. California EMS does recognize and honor Medallions or bracelets worn by the patient, however, there are only three Approved Medallion Providers for California: Sticky J Medical ID, based in Florida; MedicAlert Foundation, based out of Salida, CA; and Caring Advocates, based out of Encinitas, CA.

There are several planning tools at our disposal to help clients handle the often times very unpleasant idea of what happens to both our finances and ourselves if something horrible should befall you. Ones of particular urgency are executing documents for durable power of attorney and advance health care directives.