You can do simple things to make things easier for your loved ones when you die. Consider taking these steps to make the burden on your family just a little bit lighter:

Make a comprehensive estate plan
Update estate planning documents after each life event, or at least every five years

Store documents in a safe place
The first step to planning your estate is to assess your situation and determine what documents you will need to make a challenging situation easier for your family.

Plan For Medical Emergencies, Too
In addition to protecting your family’s financial assets after you die, do not forget to have a plan for what happens if you are incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself. First of all, you will want to appoint a financial power of attorney, which grants someone authority to make financial decisions on your behalf and manage your financial affairs.

A living will, also called a health care directive, health care power of attorney, or advance directive, contains your wishes for the type of medical treatment you would like to receive if you are unable to communicate your wishes.

Your medical directive includes your health care decisions, treatment preferences, and wishes for end-of-life care. It is helpful to families to have your guidance during such a challenging time.