Legal Step One: Assess Your Planning

Legal Planning for the Future

Step One: Assess Your Planning

This section provides two assessment tools. Your answers to Checklist A will help you decide whether the rights of your family member require protecting. It will also give you an idea of the life areas and degree of legal protection your loved one may need.

Your answers to Checklist B will help you review any legal steps you have already taken, and focus on actions that are yet to be completed.

Please take a moment to complete both checklists now. If you would like to go to a printer friendly document, please click on the icon below.

Checklist A

Assess the degree of legal protection needed
Answer each of the following questions.

Is your family member able to:

1. Make decisions about everyday items, such as meal choices or clothing?	Yes No
2. Understand the consequences of an action?	Yes No
3. Make the safe choice about: crossing a street, locking doors at home, responding in case of fire?	Yes No
4. Communicate in ways that others understand?	Yes No
5. Respond to an emergency by calling 911?	Yes No
6. Count money correctly and make purchases ?	Yes No
7. Understand residential options such as choosing where and with whom to live?	Yes No
8. Understand and request appropriate and needed support services?	Yes No
9. Understand contracts and legal papers?	Yes No
10. Understand, choose among options and comply with a medical plan of treatment?	Yes No
11. Give informed consent for a medical or surgical procedure?	Yes No
12. Be aware if/when someone is trying to cheat or steal from him/her?	Yes No
13. Understand traffic laws and safely drive a car?	Yes No
14. Select a candidate and vote in an election?	Yes No
15. Advocate on his/her own behalf?	Yes No

Checklist B

Assess what you have still to do

Answer Yes or No to the following questions.

Have you done the following:

1. Written down the details of your family member's daily life?

Yes No

2. Made a list of future caregivers and guardians or guardian advocates?

Yes No

3. Discussed choices for caregiver, standby guardian or guardian advocate and obtained consent from:

a. the person with the disability

b. the potential caregiver, guardian or guardian advocate

c. others who need to know (e.g. family members, attorney, etc.)?

Yes No

4. Had a current guardian/guardian advocate legally appointed?

Yes No

5. Designated a standby (successor) guardian in your will?

Yes No

6. Made a will that includes special provision(s)?

Yes No

7. Established a "special needs" trust, with appropriate trustees?

Yes No

8. Investigated community retirement options?

Yes No

9. Made a detailed retirement plan?

Yes No

10. Decided whether to use extraordinary means to prolong life, when death is inevitable?

Yes No

11. Made detailed funeral and burial arrangements?

Yes No

Did you understand all the terms in this section? If NOT, visit the Legal "Definitions" section by Clicking Here. If you have any questions about how the terms are used, see our "Frequently Asked Questions" section by Clicking Here.

Once you are satisfied you have the information you need, continue on to Step Two by Clicking Here.

Disclaimer Notice

Legal Issues Section Outline
Introduction to the Legal Issues Section
FAQ's
Legal Issues Definitions
Legal Issues Links- other helpful websites

Step 1- Assessing Your Options- Here
Step 2- Understanding Your Rights
Step 3- Evaluating Your Knowledge
Step 4- Documenting your Choices

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