Step 2: Legal Documents

When there were good days, we kids capitalized on it.

I convinced him to execute important legal documents. Hospice supplied many of these for us and we simply filled them in and where needed, gathered witnesses or notary public seals. Clinical and devoid of emotion, these pre-fab forms helped make this part easy.

After his paperwork was completed, we found that we had all picked up on a common language that made it easier to talk about his situation. We also gained a clarity of dad’s vision for his death and aftermath. Most importantly to you, we developed an interest in becoming as educated as we could on death and dying, especially in Texas.

If your parent, partner or other loved one is terminal, having the conversation about documents such as wills, living wills, trusts, medical power of attorney, durable statutory power of attorney, do not resuscitate orders, and protection and conveyance of personal assets among others is a necessity. They are a great place to begin a more depthy extended conversation too.

Insist on actually completing the forms though. I found that I really had to push Dad to execute documents. That is understandable and falls into the very human tendency toward denial. But these docs are important and we eventually, gently prevailed in getting him to sign them.

Whew. What a relief it was to know we had succeeded in this big step toward fulfilling his wishes.

Next we...