What to Expect

Step 1: Talk to a Law Librarian

Throughout the process, you will be able to talk to a law librarian to help you understand the process and get legal information and resources.

Step 2: Collect information

You will need to collect some information to make this work. You may not need to share this information with others, but to make the necessary decisions, you will need to know things like: What assets do you have? What health concerns? Who would you trust to help make medical or financial decisions for you?

Step 3: Learn about your options

You will likely want to read materials about your planning options, take classes online or in person or talk to a law librarian about your options. Your law librarian will provide you access to these resources.

Step 4: Decide which documents you want

Once you are informed about the options, you will decide which legal documents make sense for you. Do you want to provide healthcare instructions? Do you need a trust? a will? a power of attorney?

Step 5: Fill out the forms

You will use the templates provided by the law librarian and do your best to fill out each of the documents you would like to have. As you go, you will keep a list of questions to be answered later when you talk to a lawyer.

Step 6: Talk to a lawyer

Your Life, Your Plan will assign you a lawyer who can review your documents, give you suggestions and try to answer your questions. The lawyer will also tell you about your next steps.

Step 7: Finalize the documents

Once you are comfortable with the documents, you will need to print and sign them. Depending on what the lawyer tells you, you may need some documents to be witnessed or notarized.

Step 8: Make copies and store them safely

You will decide who should have copies of your documents and where to store them so that they are available should you or your loved ones ever need them. The law librarian or lawyer can provide some guidelines for this.

Step 9: Fill out a short survey

Tell us whether the Your Life, Your Plan program was helpful and what we can do to improve!

Step 10: Talk to a law librarian about additional questions or legal concerns

Even after you complete the Your Life, Your Plan process, your law librarian is available to help you find legal information and learn how to create documents or advocate for yourself. You may continue to contact them for support and assistance!