Your Will Is Only Part of Your Legacy: What Else Should You Have in Place?
Having a Will is one of those things we know we should have. We make sure it is up to date, perhaps have it prepared by an attorney, and then feel a little better knowing that one important piece of planning is taken care of. But a Will mainly deals with what happens to your estate after you die.
What about everything that happens before that?
What happens if you are suddenly unable to speak for yourself, make decisions or manage your everyday affairs?
And what would your family need to know if they suddenly had to step in?
This is where I believe there are a few other pieces worth considering: an Advance Directive, a Medical Proxy and a Legacy or Emergency File. They don't replace your Will. They complement it.
An Advance Directive: What would you want if you couldn't speak?
An Advance Directive, sometimes referred to as a Living Will, gives you the opportunity to communicate your healthcare wishes in the event that you become unable to make or communicate those decisions yourself.
It asks you to consider something most of us would rather not think about:
“If I couldn't speak for myself, what would I want?”
It can be an uncomfortable conversation, but it can also be an incredibly empowering one. The important thing is not simply completing a document and putting it in a drawer. Your wishes should be discussed with the people who may need to know them.
This is an area where many people benefit from having someone guide them through the conversation. There are difficult questions to consider, and you don't necessarily know what you don't know.
Have you been putting off creating an Advance Directive because you aren't sure where to start?
Your Medical Proxy: Who do you trust?
Alongside your healthcare wishes, think about the person you would trust to help represent those wishes if you were unable to speak for yourself. This is often referred to as a Medical Proxy or healthcare representative. It isn't simply about choosing your eldest child, your partner or the person who lives closest.
It is about choosing someone you trust to understand what matters to you and to have difficult conversations if necessary.
Have you spoken to that person? Do they know what your wishes are? Would they know where to find your Advance Directive?
These are conversations worth having while you are well, rather than leaving them for someone else to navigate during a crisis.
Your Legacy or Emergency File: Make the information findable
Now let's think about the practical side of life. Most of us carry an enormous amount of information around in our heads, our phones, our cupboards and our devices.
We know who our doctor is. We know where the important paperwork is. We know which accounts need attention. We know who to call. We know what needs to happen at home.
But if you couldn't deal with those things tomorrow, would someone else know?
A Legacy or Emergency File provides a central place for the information and wishes your loved ones may need if they ever have to step in for you. It isn't a replacement for your Will. It isn't a medical document and it isn't simply a folder of paperwork.
It is about making the important things findable. It can also give you a place to think about the more personal side of your legacy, the things you want your family to know, the messages you may want to leave, the wishes that matter to you and how you would like your final chapter to be remembered.
You don't have to share every detail of your life with everyone. But there is something comforting about knowing that the people you love will have somewhere to turn when they need guidance.
Think about the person who may one day need it
Imagine your daughter receives a call saying you've been taken to hospital. She's worried about you and trying to work out what needs to happen next. She knows you have your affairs in order but:
Where is everything?
Who should she contact?
What are your wishes?
Who is your Medical Proxy?
Where is your Advance Directive?
What information would she need if she had to manage things for you for a while?
Now imagine you have already thought about these things. She doesn't have to guess. She doesn't have to search through every drawer, cupboard, email and notebook. She knows where to begin. That doesn't remove the worry, but it can remove some of the uncertainty.
When the time eventually comes to deal with loss, that preparation can become an even greater gift.
Your legacy is more than what you leave behind
When we hear the word “legacy”, we often think about money, property and possessions.
But legacy can be much more personal. It can be your stories. Your values. The lessons you have learned. The memories you want to preserve. The words you want your family to hear. The things you want to be remembered for. These are the things that make your legacy. Sometimes, simply taking the time to record them starts conversations that might otherwise never happen.
So where do you start?
Start with three questions:
1. What would I want my family to know if I couldn't tell them?
2. Who would I trust to speak for me if I couldn't speak for myself?
3. Where would my family look for the information they need?
Your answers will probably show you where your gaps are. Maybe you need to review your Will. Maybe it's time to have the Advance Directive conversation. Maybe you need to talk to the person you would trust as your Medical Proxy. Or perhaps you realise that much of the information your family would need exists only in your head.
That's a good place to begin. Remember that You don't have to organise everything today.
You don't have to do it alone
I created Create My Legacy File to make this process easier and less overwhelming.
It provides a guided way to work through the practical and personal aspects of preparing your Legacy File, without expecting you to sit down and try to think of everything yourself.
It also gives you the opportunity to capture the things that matter beyond paperwork — your wishes, the words you want to leave for loved ones, the things you want considered when the time comes, and the personal elements of the legacy you want to leave.
And if the thought of creating an Advance Directive feels daunting, that's something I can help you with too. We can work through your healthcare wishes together, talk through the questions you may not have considered, and help you create something that reflects your wishes and your values. You don't have to have all the answers before you start.
Sometimes, you simply need someone to ask the right questions.
Your Will is important. But it is only part of the picture.
Putting these pieces in place isn't about expecting something bad to happen. It is about making sure your voice is heard, even if one day you cannot speak for yourself, it is about giving the people you love something incredibly valuable:
Clarity when they may need it most.
Don't leave your loved ones guessing. Leave them knowing.
👉 Want help creating your Advance Directive? Find out more about Advance Directive support here.
You don't have to do everything at once.
Start with one conversation. One decision. One step towards being prepared.
All the best, Lisa
Meet Lisa Ludwig-Mackenzie
Lisa Ludwig-Mackenzie is the founder of In the Moments Wellness and a Moment Mentor, helping people navigate Life, Loss & Legacy with practical guidance, compassionate support and meaningful conversations.
Lisa believes that the greatest gift we can leave isn't something we own, it's knowing the people we love won't be left guessing.
Contact Lisa at lisa@inthemoments.co.za 083 272 3338or read more about her here.
