Important Documents: Writing Down Your Wishes

Living with cystic fibrosis (CF) requires having a lot of conversations. Some of these conversations are with the children in your life about CF. Other conversations are with your doctor, nurses, or social workers. And still other conversations are with family, friends, or coworkers.

But what happens if you are unable to have those conversations? How do you make sure that your family knows your wishes if you can’t talk? And how do you organize everything to make it easier for family and doctors to understand?

Medical documents

When someone is no longer to express their wishes, it is important that their loved ones know what they would like. To make sure that there are no misunderstandings, writing your wishes down is also important. There are many types of paperwork to make sure that you family and doctors know what you want. And in this series, we will be going over them.

It important to remember that talking about certain things can be scary. If you are having strong emotions thinking about and talking about medical documents, remember that those feelings are normal. Reach out to your support network – friends, family, doctors, therapists – to help you process those feelings.

Last will and testament

What is a Last Will and Testament? It is a legal document that entails a person’s final wishes about their assets. Assets are resources worth certain amounts that a person owns. Here are some common reasons to have one:^1-2

1. You decide who gets your property. When some people die, they have a house or a car or maybe an amazing collection of Star Wars light sabers. In your will, it will clearly state who gets your belongings once you have passed away. Another thing you can decide is who doesn’t get access to your belongings.
2. You decide who will manage your estate after you pass away. Sometimes when people pass away, they still have debts that must be taken care of, or they need accounts closed. When you make a will, you will get to decide who closes your accounts and makes sure that everything is organized. The person who manages your estate must be over 18 years old and they cannot be a family member.
3. You decide who will take care of your children if they are minors. If you have children when you pass away, you want to make sure that you know who will take care of them. This is called designating a legal guardian. Be sure to speak with that family member or close friend so they are aware of your wishes for if they need to raise your children.

Why is a document like this so important? It protects your family, your belongings, and your belongings. In addition, it can make sure that certain things are organized and handled after you have passed away.

How to get a last will and testament

Once you have learned what a last will is, you might have questions. Where do you get one? How do you learn how to make one? The first step is simply getting started. Here are some simple steps on how to get started:⁴

1. Decide if you want to hire a lawyer, or if you want to write your own online.
2. Identify your beneficiaries.
3. If you have a child, choose your legal guardian.
4. Decide on an executor of your estate.
5. Consider other wishes.
6. Sign your last will and testament.
7. Find two witnesses.
8. Get your will notarized.

It may feel like it is too soon, or you are too young to have a will. And creating one or hiring someone to make one, can feel overwhelming. One thing that may help is remembering that this is a tool. This tool can make the days, weeks, and months after your passing less stressful and confusing for family members and friends.

Creating a last will and testament may feel heavy. Usually doing anything associated with death can be very scary. If you are feeling scared or overwhelmed, be sure to reach out to your support network. They can help you organize your thoughts and support you as you process emotions.