September is National Preparedness Month, a time to think beyond emergency kits, evacuation routes, and emergency contacts.

Being prepared also means making sure your important legal and personal documents are in order before you need them.

We often prepare for the possibility of an earthquake, wildfire, power outage, or other emergency. But what happens if an emergency leaves you unable to make decisions for yourself?

Would someone you trust be able to step in?

Would your family know your healthcare wishes?

Would they know where to find your estate planning documents?

These aren’t always easy questions to think about, but preparing ahead can make an incredibly difficult situation a little easier for the people you love.

Preparedness Isn’t Just About Emergencies

A complete estate plan may include documents such as a Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, and Advance Health Care Directive. These documents can help communicate your wishes and designate people you trust to make certain decisions when you cannot.

And just like an emergency kit, these documents are most valuable when they’re prepared before the emergency happens.

I’ve experienced this firsthand in my work as a professional notary. I was once called to notarize a Power of Attorney for someone who was seriously ill. By the time I arrived, the signer could no longer communicate or demonstrate the understanding necessary for me to legally complete the notarization.

I couldn’t help that family; not because they didn’t care or hadn’t tried, but because they waited until the document was urgently needed.

That experience has stayed with me.

A Little Preparation Can Go a Long Way

If you live in Ventura County, September is a good opportunity to review your estate planning documents and make sure everything is current.

If you’ve been putting off creating a Will or Trust, talk with an estate planning attorney about what makes sense for your circumstances. I’m not an attorney and cannot provide legal advice, but I work alongside wonderful estate planning professionals and am always happy to point someone toward a referral when appropriate.

Once your documents are ready, that’s where I can help.

As a Certified Notary Trust Delivery Agent, I provide mobile notary services for trust signings and related documents throughout Oxnard, Ventura, Camarillo, and Ojai, including after-hours and weekend appointments when available.

Preparedness isn’t about living in fear of what might happen.

It’s about giving yourself and your family one less thing to worry about when life doesn’t go according to plan.

This September, don’t just prepare your emergency kit.

Prepare your paperwork, too.

Valuable resources:

• California Court Self-Help Guide: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/wills-estates-probate/legal-documents
• Ridley Law – Free California Estate Planning Tools: https://ridleylawoffices.com/estate-tools/
• FreeWill: http://www.freewill.com/