We're getting old enough we feel the need to wills and health directives. When you're young you don't think of these things. But as age increases and we see people our age with health problems it starts to hit home. We talked with a lawyer in our new state, South Dakota, and determined we need the following.

• Revocable Trust - An entity to keep all our assets. While alive we can access it just as we have done. But, upon our deaths it is transfered directly to the specified benificiary avoiding probate.


• Pour Over Wills - If we miss some assets these wills transfer these assets to the Trust. If the assets have a small value probate is again avoided.


• General Power of Attorney - If incapacitated this appoints someone to handle our finances.


• Healthcare Power of Attorney - If incapacitate this appoints someone to make healthcare decisions for us.


• Advance Directive for Healthcare - This document describes the care desired if we are incapable of making those decisions for ourselves. It directs medical professionals and those with Healthcare Power of Attorney in giving us the care we've decided upon while we can still make rational decisions.

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