LEGAL
A Bucket List Trip
Share Before You Go
By Meg Pauken
Fall is the perfect time for a bucket list trip—many popular destinations are less crowded and rates are often lower during the season. Last October, my husband and I went on an amazing trip to Italy. We relaxed and enjoyed it because we planned for worst-case scenarios. In our case, they never happened, but if they had, we were ready. Here is how we planned, and what I recommend to friends and clients.
What Ifs & More
Consider scenarios in which you might need assistance: extended travel delays caused by weather or labor strikes, a health emergency while traveling, or an emergency while you are away, such as tornado or flood damage to your home. We have had friends encounter all of these. You may have special circumstances unique to you that require extra planning, such as care for an elderly relative, farm animals, or a business.
Leave a trail of breadcrumbs for close friends and family. This should include the airline and flight numbers, travel itinerary, and tour company or hotel information. Even with cell phones everywhere, emergencies happen and phones can get lost or damaged. If your family needs to reach you, make sure they can.
Review (and update, if necessary) key legal documents. Make sure that your general power of attorney and healthcare power of attorney are up to date with current contact information.
- If you are leaving young children with a caregiver, does that person have written authority to obtain medical care for them? This should include the ability to obtain medical information, as well as consent to care.
- Is your traveling companion your healthcare agent? If not, you may wish to consider this in case something happens while you are traveling and you are temporarily unable to make medical care decisions.
- Do both general and healthcare powers of attorney identify a backup agent other than your traveling companion? This is important in case you are involved in a common accident, or help is needed at home while you are away.
- Does your agent have all the powers they might need to take care of your business while you are away? For example, if a tree falls on your roof, is your agent authorized to contact your insurance agent and arrange for repairs? If your return is delayed, is your agent authorized to pick up your pet or arrange for extended care?
- Have you left information in an accessible way for your agents? Give them the location of your key personal information, like homeowners insurance and health insurance.
Make copies. Give copies of your powers of attorney to your agents. We also carry copies of ours on a small jump drive when we are traveling, in case we need them while we are away. Get a paper copy of the necessary prescriptions from your doctor and bring them with you. If luggage is lost, medications spill, or travel delays leave you short, you will be able to obtain refills.
Leave a key. Leave a key to your home and the code for your security system with a trusted friend, family member, or your power of attorney. If a storm causes damage or an extended power outage, or if your return is delayed for some reason, someone may need access. It is also a good idea to provide keys to cars in the garage, for the same reason.
With a little extra thought and planning, your next “bucket list” trip will be even more relaxing because you will have fewer worries while away.
