The unique aspects of the coronavirus pandemic may make it advisable to review your current estate plan. Language in estate planning documents that is fine under normal conditions may cause problems for you and your loved ones if you fall ill during the pandemic.
Look over the following documents to see if they may need updating:
- Living will. A living will is a document that you can use to give instructions regarding treatment if you become terminally ill or are in a persistent vegetative state and unable to communicate your instructions. The living will states under what conditions life-sustaining treatment should be terminated. Many living wills contain a prohibition on intubation, which can be used to prolong life. However, in the case of COVID-19, intubation and placement on a ventilator can actually save a patient’s life. If your living will contains a blanket prohibition on intubation, you may want to rethink that.
- Durable power of attorney. A power of attorney (POA) allows you to appoint an agent to act in your place with regard to financial matters. A POA can be either current or springing. A current POA takes effect immediately, usually with the understanding that it will not be used until and unless you become incapacitated. A “springing” POA only takes affect when you become incapacitated. The problem is that when presented with a springing power of attorney, a financial institution will require proof that the incapacity has occurred, often in the form of a letter from a doctor. In the current environment, getting a letter from a doctor may be difficult. Consider changing your POA so that it can take effect immediately if needed.
- Health care proxy. A health care proxy allows you to appoint someone else to act as your agent for medical decisions for you in accordance with your agent’s assessment of your wishes. Without a health care proxy, your doctor may be required to provide you with medical treatment that you would have refused if you were able to do so. Usually, the person who is appointed to act as your agent would confer with the doctors in person. That may be impossible now because family members often are not allowed to be in the hospital with sick patients. You should consider whether it may be appropriate for your health care proxy to contain a provision that expressly authorizes electronic communication with your agent.
Consult with your attorney to make sure these documents and your other estate planning documents express your wishes during this time.
