We had wills as well as durable power of attorney and advanced directives put together BY AN ATTORNEY prior to our first child's birth.
First - it would suck wind to have our wishes not known in event of a tragedy, but almost more importantly, having these things in order will reduce the risk of probate related issues. We do not want multi-year court battles prior to our kids from receiving the funds that belong to them.
We're not rich, but rather want our intentions known and for the process to go expeditiously.
The durable power of attorney is helpful for assigning your wishes (no code or otherwise).
Very good idea for a thread, and please take this subject seriously.
While we're at it - please get "donor" stickers for your drivers licenses. Can't hurt you anymore, and think of the positive impact you can have if somebody has a negative impact on you.
Finally - putting the "ICE" info somewhere easy to find in your car and on your person is also a good idea. This stands for "In case of emergency", and should be accompanied by your loved one's contact info.
Wifey is a nurse, and also very organized. She makes sure we're on top of this sort of thing.
I do manage to dress myself in the morning, though.
