Estate Planning Basics For First-Responders

Everyday, first responders - EMT’s, firefighters, and police officers - put themselves into vulnerable situations, and their loved ones hope that they will be home by the end of the workday. 

If the worst were to happen to these brave individuals, are their legacies and the wellbeing of their families protected? 

Having a robust estate plan is important for anyone, but crucial for first-responders with high-risk jobs.

Estate Planning - What do I need?

A simple last will-and-testament offers some protection, but likely not as much as you expect. If your job puts you in harm’s way, you should have a plan for the event of a serious injury or illness that incapacitates you from making medical decisions for yourself in real-time.

You may make these decisions for yourself ahead of time through an advance medical directive, which puts your wishes to receive (or not receive) certain care in legally bound writing. Choose someone you trust as your medical proxy to make sure those wishes are followed. A living will outlines your desired end-of-life treatment. All of these are facets of an estate plan.

Another important aspect: a living trust. If you have minor children, they cannot be listed as beneficiaries on life insurance or a pension. Your partner may be listed as a beneficiary, but if you want that money to go to your children, then it must go into the trust and then be dispersed. 

Traditional estate planning may pose barriers if you have a demanding schedule or one that operates outside of normal office hours. Taking time away from work to sit with an attorney can make an important investment more expensive than it has to be.

Luckily, Legado can meet you where you’re at - even in your community - to protect your legacy and meet your family’s unique needs.

Online Estate Planning

Our one-of-a-kind intake form helps guide you through the tough, but necessary considerations to protect yourself and your family in all situations. You can do this on your own time, save it and return to it later. Once you’re ready, an attorney will review it and prepare your legal documents. 

Even better, Legado partners with Sorbet to give you the option to fund your estate planning needs by converting your unused PTO into its cash value.*

Is an estate plan really that important?

Well, yes. Not only does it square away all of your last wishes, who and where you want your belongings/money to go to, and what kind of end-of-life care you want to receive, it also helps to minimize the stress and work that your family would have to endure after your passing. 

Grief is a heavy enough feeling on its own. Your loved ones don’t need the added weight of planning a funeral from scratch, or going in and out of probate court (as a last will requires). 

With that being said, please consider talking with your family about arranging estate plans as well. Being a first-responder is a stressful, busy enough job without also needing to take on a part-time (nearly unpaid) role as executor of a will, needing to appear in probate court regularly to settle your loved one’s estate. 

You work hard and you look out for others everyday. Take this step to protect yourself, your family, and your legacy because it’s one to remember. 

Learn more and begin your estate plan here.

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Does this sound like something your employees or coworkers would also be interested in? Check out Legado for Employers to learn more about our employee benefit product.

*Currently, Sorbet is only available in the following states: 

Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts,  New York, New Jersey, Texas, Virginia, Oregon, Arkansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Maine, Connecticut, West Virginia.