Help managing legal affairs

Unexpected things can happen, such as illness, injury, or a change in financial or personal circumstances. It’s a good idea to plan for these events in advance, while you’re still healthy and able to make decisions.

Taking care of your legal affairs now can help ensure that:

• your wishes are clear
• your loved ones know what you want
• you avoid confusion or stress during difficult times.

Legal planning

There are a few legal matters to consider when planning for the future, depending on your wishes and situation. These include: 

• deciding what kind of care you might need or want, and where you’d like to receive it if your needs change  
• creating an advance care plan to document your healthcare wishes
• considering who will make healthcare and other decisions for you if you can’t
• preparing legal documents such as an advance health directive or power of attorney
• estate planning (including your Will).

Seeking legal advice can help you stay informed of your choices, understand what documents you might need, and ensure that those documents are valid and accurately reflect your wishes. 

Support with decision-making

It's important to think about who you would want to help you make and communicate decisions and what kind of support you might want in the future. This includes making sure that you are actively involved in making decisions, as well as thinking about how decisions would be made for you if you couldn't make them yourself. There are a few support roles to consider.

Advice on money matters

If you want or need help managing money problems, professional services such as financial advisors and counsellors can assist. There are organisations, services and tools that can offer financial support and guidance.  

Supporting someone else

You may have a loved one – a partner, family member, or someone you are caring for – who needs support managing their affairs.