The pending arrival of a new year presents an apt time to both look at future dreams, ambitions, and opportunities and to prepare for pitfalls in the road ahead. It is a time not only for holiday joys and memories, but for facing both pleasant and difficult tasks we should do in preparation for the future.

One of the most difficult but important tasks we can undertake is preparing for the inevitable passing of a loved one who is elderly or terminally ill. We can bring peace of mind to them and to ourselves by doing what is necessary to avoid the turmoil and anxiety of medical, legal and family battles, or just the confusion of post-mortem goose chases for missing documents related to finances, asset ownership, insurance, or funeral wishes.