Line Up Your Legal Documents

April 19, 2021

People don’t plan on becoming incapacitated, but debilitating accidents and illnesses don’t discriminate by age. One way to avoid complicated legal, health, and financial issues is to have the necessary legal documents in place well in advance of when you think you might need them.

Documenting your wishes can be a gift to your loved ones, should they face making unexpected and critical decisions on your behalf. Start simply to make your planning more manageable. Once you’ve outlined your wishes and identified the legal documents you think you’ll need, a lawyer with whom you’re comfortable can help guide you through to the end of document creation.

To help you understand how different legal documents protect you, consider this small step.

Small Step: Learn About The Legal Documents You May Need

Do you know the differences between a living will, durable power of attorney for health care, and a Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR)? You may need just one or all three, depending on your wishes and the state in which you reside. What about a revocable living trust, durable power of attorney (DPOA), or what’s required to set up a joint ownership arrangement? Read this article from Broadridge to learn about each of these and consider which may be helpful as you plan for your future.

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Motivated to do more?

If you have an ELCA Retirement Plan account with Portico:

Another small step in protection planning is to review your beneficiary designations periodically to ensure they remain aligned with your wishes following significant life events (such as marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, death). Beneficiary & Important Contact Information PDF to track your decisions in one place for easy reference.
If you have questions about these legal documents or updating your beneficiary information, go to myPortico to learn more. If you need help, you can find the phone number to call a planner at the top of the page.

If you have ELCA Medicare-Primary health benefits with Portico:

Visit Humana.com/caregiver to learn more about submitting a Consent for Release of Protected Health Information (PHI) form naming a loved one who can contact Humana on your behalf for claims and coverage information.

This material and any opinions are for educational purposes only. Information presented shall not be construed as offering or disseminating specific financial, retirement, asset protection, tax, or legal advice.