Most of us believe in something. Some strongly believe in a particular god or collection of gods, while others pointedly believe that no such thing exists. Whatever beliefs you hold dear, it’s likely you want your estate plan to reflect them.
If you don’t cover these things, it could put others in a difficult situation, one where two individuals with differing beliefs might want different things for you. Here are some of the areas to consider:
1. Emergency care
If you are seriously injured and facing death, would you want the doctors to do whatever they can to save you? Or would certain things such as blood transfusion and organ donations be off limits due to your faith? You should make this clear through an advance health care directive rather than burden your loved ones with such difficult decisions.
2. Funeral plans
Cremation is gaining popularity over burial, but some religions are heavily against it. You can use your estate plan to spell out how you wish your remains to be treated, as well as what kind of ceremony you would like.
3. Guardianship of any children
If you have minor children, you should name a guardian who can step in to take care of them if you and their other parent die. The first choice for many people will be the child’s other parent, but sometimes this is not an option, and sometimes both parents perish in the same accident.
If you have always raised your child under a particular religion, you might want to pick a guardian who shares the same religion as you and your kids. Or you might feel the benefits a particular person could bring to the role outweigh the fact they don’t.
Seeking guidance as to how best to document your wishes allows you to create an estate plan that is in line with your beliefs and priorities.