Essential End-of-Life Planning Tips for Military Families: Preparing for the 'What-If'

Thank you to all active and veteran military service men and women, and your families, for your dedication to our country.

Katie and I recently returned from visiting the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France, where my grandfather is buried after being killed in World War II. We felt an intense reverence as we walked the grounds, reflecting on the struggles my grandmother experienced as a new widow and single parent to my one-year-old mother. I also wondered about the families of the other 9,388 men and women buried there. Considering how quickly the United States was rushed into the war, I imagine most didn’t have time to prepare for “what-if”.

With the intensity of troop engagement constantly ebbing and flowing, we highly encourage military families to take time NOW to prepare for “what-if”, especially those who have children at home.  Though it may feel daunting, imagine the hardship for surviving spouses and children if there’s no plan in place. 

If you don’t know where to start, here are a few suggestions.

• Start with the Resources Available to You Now. 

  • Read the fine print of your enlistment papers to understand how the benefits could help plan for a worst-case scenario.

  • Take advantage of low-cost insurance programs like Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance coverage, where a $500,000 life policy is available for only $31 a month to a wide range of eligible military members.

  • Ask support personnel about the many available planning resources.  Examples include:

    • Army Community Services (ACS): Offers training on estate planning, life insurance, financial planning

    • Veteran Affairs Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (VA DIC): Provides a monthly benefit to survivors of service members and veterans who died from service-related causes

    • Burial and memorial options in national cemeteries

    • Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG): Offers basic estate planning assistance for active military and veterans

    • Military OneSource:  Provides a 24/7 connection to information, answers, and support for active military, veterans, and their families

• Use Resources to Cover the Four Pillars of Preparation

  • Financial – Plan for how your family will pay the bills if a service member dies 

  • Legal – Ensure the right documents are in place to transfer assets and fulfill your wishes

  • Mental/Emotional/Spiritual – Consider developing inner strength to cope with the grief and hardship of losing a partner

  • Practical – Regularly swap chores so each partner learns how to manage the household solo if needed. Ensure both partners have access to accounts, emergency contacts, shared calendars, etc.

• Update Regularly

  • As your career, finances, and family evolve, review and update your plan accordingly

Don’t get caught off guard and unprotected.  Here are some additional tasks you can do today to get started:

1. Talk to your partner and commit together to preparing each other for both scenarios

2. Learn what proper planning entails

3. Make an appointment with a JAG or civilian estate planning attorney and financial planner

If you have questions or aren’t sure where to start, let us know here:  https://www.affairsinorder.com/contact

Cheers!

Corey

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