人人都該準備的四份遺產遺囑文件
There's no time like the present to make sure all your estate-planning ducks are in a row.
沒有什麼時候比當下更適宜準備，確保你的遺產規劃不出任何亂子。For many people, the words 'estate planning' may conjure up thoughts of large inheritances and tax shelters. But planning 'isn't just about death and taxes; it's also about what happens if you get very sick and live,' says G. Mark Shalloway, a West Palm Beach, Fla., attorney who specializes in elder law.
一說到“遺產規劃”這個詞，很多人可能就會想起大額的遺產和各種避稅手段。但佛羅里達州西棕櫚灘專攻老年法的律師馬克・夏洛威(G. Mark Shalloway)說，遺產規劃“不只關係到死亡和稅賦，也關係到你活着的時候生大病的問題”。
Here's are the four estate-planning documents everyone needs:
以下是人人都需要的四份遺產規劃文書：
1 A will.
1. 遺囑Many people think they don't need a will. But sitting down with a lawyer and completing a will is the best way to ensure your wishes will be fulfilled--and to avoid leaving anything up to the courts.
很多人都覺得自己不需要遺囑。但諮詢律師並填寫一份遺囑是確保所有願望都得到實現的最好辦法，也是避免把某些事情交由法庭裁決的最好辦法。'It's often best to do a very simple will directing where things go,' says Philip Bouklas, an attorney in New York. That's especially the case if there are multiple children where it's critical to name guardians for minors, he says.
紐約律師菲利浦・博克拉斯(Philip Bouklas)說：“很多情況下，最好都是訂立一份非常簡單的指導性遺囑。”他說，如果有多位子女、給未成年子女指定監護人至關重要，那麼就更應該訂立一份遺囑。An important part of the will is naming the executor who is in charge of managing an estate, including paying bills. While you don't need to tell anyone what is in your will, it's important to let your designated executor know he or she has been chosen to do that job, and it might be a good idea to inform other family members, too.
遺囑中的一個重要部分，是指定負責管理遺產、包括支付各種費用的執行人。雖然你不需要把遺囑內容告訴任何人，但讓你所指定的執行人知道你挑選了他或她來做這件事卻是很重要的，告知其他家族成員可能也是一個不錯的主意。Mr. Bouklas also suggests having discussions with family members about how personal effects or family heirlooms are handled.
博克拉斯還建議跟家族成員商量怎麼處理私人物品和傳家之物的問題。'You can't just stick your head in the sand and say 'they'll figure it out,' ' he says.
他說：“你不能只管把腦袋埋進沙子裏說，‘他們會想出辦法的’。”There may be a temptation to do a will on the cheap, using online resources. Tread warily. Small details can end up invalidating wills or leaving your wishes unfulfilled.
訂立遺囑的時候，你可能會忍不住想利用網上資源，從而少花錢。可要小心了。到頭來，一些小小的細節就有可能造成遺囑失效，或使你的遺願無法實現。2 Durable power of attorney.
2. 持久委託書A power of attorney can give someone else the authority to act as your 'agent' and make legal and financial decisions should you become incapacitated.
萬一你喪失能力，委託書可以授權別人以你“代理人”的身份制定法務和財務方面的決策。Don't take this decision lightly. Unlike an executor, this could be a continuing role. 'People don't give enough thought to whom they are giving power of attorney,' says Michael Kirtland, a Colorado Springs, Colo., estate-planning and elder-law attorney.
不要小看這個決定。和執行人不一樣的是，這個代理人可能是一個持續性的角色。科羅拉多州科羅拉多斯普林斯遺產規劃與老年法律師邁克爾・科特蘭(Michael Kirtland)說：“在授權給誰的問題上，人們想得不夠周到。”Mr. Shalloway says it's important to consider that this person will be managing your finances. 'You may have someone who is devoted to you, but doesn't have the skill sets for managing money,' he says.
夏洛威說，一定要想到，這個人將會管理你的財務。他說：“他可能會是一個忠誠於您，卻沒有管錢技能的人。”Finally, always name a backup. Many people will name their spouse, says Mr. Kirtland. 'But what happens if both are injured in a car wreck or both develop signs of dementia?'
最後，一定要指定一個候補人選。科特蘭說，很多人都會任命配偶，“但如果兩個人都在車禍中受傷，或兩個人都出現了癡呆症狀，那又怎麼辦？”3 Medical power of attorney.
3. 醫療委託書This document--also known as a health-care proxy--enables any adult you designate to make medical decisions on your behalf should you be unable to make them yourself.
如果你無法自己做出醫療方面的決定，那麼這份文件（又稱爲醫療保健代理書）就會讓你所指定的成年人能夠代表你做出這些決定。'Pick the person who you think is going to stay calm in a crisis,' says Mr. Kirtland. 'Mom was in an auto that person is being asked to make medical decisions under the stress of 'Mom is dying.' '
科特蘭說：“要挑選你認爲會在危機中保守鎮定的那個人。媽媽遇到車禍，那個人要在‘媽媽要死了’的壓力之中做出醫療方面的決定。”4 A living will.
4.生前遺囑A living will--sometimes known as an advanced health-care directive--specifies in writing your wishes for end-of-life care. That includes such things as whether you want to be resuscitated if your breathing or heartbeat stops, or whether you want to be kept alive through artificial respiration or feeding.
生前遺囑(living will)有時候又叫“事先醫療指令”(advanced health-care directive)，它用書面形式列出你對臨終護理的願望，比如如果呼吸或心跳停止，你是否希望做心肺復甦，以及你是否希望通過人工呼吸或人工進食維持生命。When it comes both to the medical power of attorney and living will, sit down and have a conversation with loved ones about your wishes. It may not be easy, but will help later in what will be a difficult time for your family.
在涉及醫療委託書和生前遺囑的時候，坐下來跟家人一起談談你的願望。這種談話可能不太輕鬆，但之後在困難處境中會幫到你的家人。Lastly, make things easier for everyone by keeping your important documents, financial records and even information about doctors and medication updated and in one place. (Just not in a safe-deposit box, which will require a power of attorney to access.)
最後，把你的重要文件、財務記錄甚至是有關醫生和藥物的信息都更新到最新狀態並歸置到一處，從而讓大家都更加方便一些。（別放進保險箱，因爲要憑委託書才能進入。）Mr. Bouklas says he has clients who once a year or so provide him with an updated list of their bank and investment accounts, and any other important information, which he then holds in their file.
博克拉斯說，他的一些客戶大約每年一次爲他提供最新的銀行賬戶、投資賬戶名單，以及可能還有的其他重要信息，然後他把這些信息放到他們的檔案中。'It helps keep things a lot more orderly,' he says.
他說：“這有助於讓事情變得有序很多。”
