As many have heard, Bobbi Kristina Brown, Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown’s daughter, was admitted to the hospital on January 31, 2015. As of today she is still in the hospital in a medically induced coma. As noted by Meredith Engel of New York Daily News, Brown’s doctor suggests she will be in the coma for a couple of months before they consider taking her off life support. The following comment was also made: “Brown may regain enough bodily functions — breathing, temperature control, blinking — to be in a permanent vegetative state, he said. Unless Brown has given advance instructions in the event of her incapacitation, there will likely be a family dispute on how to move forward.”
This brings to light a very important topic. Many think you need to be “older” and have a lot of money to have an estate plan. I’m here to tell you those are common misconceptions. We all think nothing will happen to us until we are elderly, but the truth is, something can happen in the next five minutes that will change our lives forever. Being a 29-year-old myself, I can tell you that many of my friends don’t even know what an “estate plan” is and, once informed, they think the cost to create a plan is outrageous. Even if you can’t afford the full package of an estate plan which includes documents such as an Advanced Health Care Directive, HIPAA Authorization, Power of Attorney, Last Will, Living Will, Assignments of Property, and a Trust, it is VERY important to at least create an Advanced Health Care Directive which displays all of your wishes upon incapacity or death. It’s very easy to procrastinate, but I finally created my own Advanced Health Care Directive after my sister, also 29-years-old, was in a horrible car accident and remained in intensive care for two weeks. After the first week, our family had a harsh case of reality slam us in the face when they tried to remove my sister’s breathing tube after surgery and her lungs collapsed. We sat in tears for three hours while the doctors worked to keep her alive. That was the first time in my life that I actually had to think: Okay, if she dies today, how will we go through with the funeral? How will we all agree on what to do for her? Who would she want to receive her prized possessions? Let me tell you, it was one of the most sickening feelings I have ever felt. I have expressed the importance of having a Health Care Directive with my family after the ordeal. I believe a lot of people not having an estate plan is due to lack of knowledge and understanding as to help it can help you. I HIGHLY suggest everyone, even those who don’t think they need one, create this document along with any of the others previously mentioned that will suit your needs. The cost now and facing the reality that we all do die at some point will benefit you greatly in the future and those you care about. Please contact our firm if you have any questions. A complimentary meeting with an attorney can be arranged to help address any questions or concerns you may have.
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week: October 21, 2024 – October 27, 2024. - October 2, 2024
- National Estate Planning Awareness Week 2023: Protect Your Family and Legacy - September 28, 2023
- The Importance of Having an Estate Plan - February 2, 2023