人人都该准备的四份遗产遗嘱文件
There's no time like the present to make sure all your estate-planning ducks are in a row.
没有什么时候比当下更适宜准备，确保你的遗产规划不出任何乱子。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.
一说到“遗产规划”这个词，很多人可能就会想起大额的遗产和各种避税手段。但佛罗里达州西棕榈滩专攻老年法的律师马克・夏洛威(G. Mark Shalloway)说，遗产规划“不只关系到死亡和税赋，也关系到你活着的时候生大病的问题”。
Here's are the four estate-planning documents everyone needs:
以下是人人都需要的四份遗产规划文书：
1 A will.
1. 遗嘱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.
很多人都觉得自己不需要遗嘱。但咨询律师并填写一份遗嘱是确保所有愿望都得到实现的最好办法，也是避免把某些事情交由法庭裁决的最好办法。'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.
纽约律师菲利浦・博克拉斯(Philip Bouklas)说：“很多情况下，最好都是订立一份非常简单的指导性遗嘱。”他说，如果有多位子女、给未成年子女指定监护人至关重要，那么就更应该订立一份遗嘱。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.
遗嘱中的一个重要部分，是指定负责管理遗产、包括支付各种费用的执行人。虽然你不需要把遗嘱内容告诉任何人，但让你所指定的执行人知道你挑选了他或她来做这件事却是很重要的，告知其他家族成员可能也是一个不错的主意。Mr. Bouklas also suggests having discussions with family members about how personal effects or family heirlooms are handled.
博克拉斯还建议跟家族成员商量怎么处理私人物品和传家之物的问题。'You can't just stick your head in the sand and say 'they'll figure it out,' ' he says.
他说：“你不能只管把脑袋埋进沙子里说，‘他们会想出办法的’。”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.
订立遗嘱的时候，你可能会忍不住想利用网上资源，从而少花钱。可要小心了。到头来，一些小小的细节就有可能造成遗嘱失效，或使你的遗愿无法实现。2 Durable power of attorney.
2. 持久委托书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.
万一你丧失能力，委托书可以授权别人以你“代理人”的身份制定法务和财务方面的决策。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.
不要小看这个决定。和执行人不一样的是，这个代理人可能是一个持续性的角色。科罗拉多州科罗拉多斯普林斯遗产规划与老年法律师迈克尔・科特兰(Michael Kirtland)说：“在授权给谁的问题上，人们想得不够周到。”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.
夏洛威说，一定要想到，这个人将会管理你的财务。他说：“他可能会是一个忠诚于您，却没有管钱技能的人。”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?'
最后，一定要指定一个候补人选。科特兰说，很多人都会任命配偶，“但如果两个人都在车祸中受伤，或两个人都出现了痴呆症状，那又怎么办？”3 Medical power of attorney.
3. 医疗委托书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.
如果你无法自己做出医疗方面的决定，那么这份文件（又称为医疗保健代理书）就会让你所指定的成年人能够代表你做出这些决定。'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.' '
科特兰说：“要挑选你认为会在危机中保守镇定的那个人。妈妈遇到车祸，那个人要在‘妈妈要死了’的压力之中做出医疗方面的决定。”4 A living will.
4.生前遗嘱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.
生前遗嘱(living will)有时候又叫“事先医疗指令”(advanced health-care directive)，它用书面形式列出你对临终护理的愿望，比如如果呼吸或心跳停止，你是否希望做心肺复苏，以及你是否希望通过人工呼吸或人工进食维持生命。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.
在涉及医疗委托书和生前遗嘱的时候，坐下来跟家人一起谈谈你的愿望。这种谈话可能不太轻松，但之后在困难处境中会帮到你的家人。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.)
最后，把你的重要文件、财务记录甚至是有关医生和药物的信息都更新到最新状态并归置到一处，从而让大家都更加方便一些。（别放进保险箱，因为要凭委托书才能进入。）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.
博克拉斯说，他的一些客户大约每年一次为他提供最新的银行账户、投资账户名单，以及可能还有的其他重要信息，然后他把这些信息放到他们的档案中。'It helps keep things a lot more orderly,' he says.
他说：“这有助于让事情变得有序很多。”
