Planning for Death: Understanding the Essential Documents

End-of-life planning often involves several documents, each serving a different purpose. Understanding how they fit together can make it easier to communicate personal wishes, organize important information, and reduce uncertainty for the people who may eventually need to act on our behalf.

This live online class provides a clear, approachable introduction to essential end-of-life planning documents. Participants will learn about wills, advance directives, living wills, durable powers of attorney, POLST and MOLST forms, beneficiary designations, and digital legacy plans.

Using plain-language explanations and real-world examples, the class explores what these documents are designed to do, the decisions they may support, and how they relate to one another. Participants will also consider practical ways to begin gathering and organizing important information in accordance with their values and priorities.

By the end of the class, participants should have a clearer understanding of the documents that may be relevant to their planning, possible gaps they may want to address, and questions to bring to qualified legal, financial, or healthcare professionals.

This class is educational and does not provide legal advice, interpret laws, recommend specific legal documents, or instruct participants on completing legal forms. Laws, requirements, and terminology vary by jurisdiction. Participants should consult a licensed attorney in their state for guidance concerning their individual circumstances.

This class is open to everyone. No previous knowledge or professional experience is required.