HAVE YOU CHECKED YOUR LEGAL HEALTH LATELY?

Many people may not realize it, but taking care of one's legal health should be as much of a priority as one's physical health. Just as a medical checkup can reveal what's wrong with our bodies, a "legal checkup" can help find any potential problems in our legal affairs.

All too often, we wait until a crisis occurs--such as a physical injury, sickness, or death--before taking action. By that time it's too late, and these problems can take a heavy emotional and financial toll. Instead, the best time for you to act is before these legal "illnesses" crop up. That way you are better prepared to keep them from becoming a major problem.

For that reason, it's a good idea to give yourself a "legal checkup" at least once a year. You can start by reviewing your legal affairs and documents. And as you review your legal health, ask yourself the following questions:

Do I have a secure place to store all of my important personal documents and records, like a file cabinet, a safe or a safe deposit box?
Are there any areas of my life where there may be legal dangers that I haven't addressed (e.g., not having a current will)?
Are all of my documents up to date and in order?
Do I need to make changes to my legal and/or financial documents so that they keep up with my current needs?
Can I make these changes myself or do I need to consult a professional (e.g., lawyer, financial planner, etc.) to help me?
While you ask yourself these questions, take the opportunity to evaluate your legal health in regard to the different areas of your life, including:

• Changes in Your Family Situation (marriages or divorce, deaths, etc.)
• Wills and Estate Plans
• Power of Attorney
• Finances
• Real Estate Ownership
• Insurance
• Retirement and/or employment
• Investments
• Business Interests, etc.

Finding and correcting legal health problems is a relatively easy and inexpensive process and you'll find that you can perform much of this "legal checkup" yourself.. However, if you have questions, or find areas that require the expertise of a professional (such as a lawyer, financial planner, etc.) it's a good idea to get the help you need. Like your doctor, a lawyer knows how to diagnose problems and prescribe helpful cures. This is especially true if you find it necessary to make changes to your legal documents or other affairs (e.g., your will, or a power of attorney for elderly parents).

If you have a "legal checkup" on a regular basis you will find yourself far better able to identify and solve problems before they develop into larger crises. And if a crisis does come along, you'll be better prepared to handle it. Ultimately, knowing your legal health provides you and your family the protection you need, and the peace of mind you deserve.