Facing a Serious Health Diagnosis: Why Estate Planning Brings Peace of Mind in Washington and Oregon
Few words can shake a person’s world like “you have cancer.” A serious health diagnosis—whether it’s breast cancer, Alzheimer’s, or another life-changing illness—brings an avalanche of emotions and questions. What does treatment look like? How will this affect my family? Will my finances hold up?
At Pettis Webber Pacific, we walk alongside families in Washington and Oregon who are facing these kinds of moments. Again and again, we’ve seen how estate planning becomes a source of stability and peace of mind when life feels most uncertain.
The Overlooked Part of Health Planning
When someone is diagnosed with a serious illness, the immediate focus is understandably medical—doctors, treatments, medications. Yet, there’s another kind of planning that is just as critical: making sure your legal and financial affairs are in order.
Estate planning is not just about “who gets what” when you pass away. It’s about ensuring:
- Your wishes are honored if you can’t speak for yourself
- The right people are empowered to make decisions on your behalf
- Your loved ones are protected from unnecessary stress, conflict, and financial hardship
This is why estate planning should be seen as part of your overall care plan—because it’s not just about the future; it’s about supporting you and your family right now.
Why Timing Matters
A serious diagnosis doesn’t automatically take away your ability to make legal decisions. In fact, the earlier you begin estate planning, the more control you retain.
For example, someone newly diagnosed with breast cancer may still have full decision-making capacity. Taking time now to sign powers of attorney and advance health directives ensures that if treatment later affects cognition or energy, trusted family members can step in smoothly without court involvement.
Without those documents, families may be forced into costly, stressful guardianship proceedings just to pay bills or authorize medical care.
Essential Documents to Put in Place
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness, here are the key legal tools to focus on:
- Health Care Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive
These documents allow you to choose someone you trust to make medical decisions if you’re unable—and to outline your wishes about treatments, end-of-life care, and quality of life priorities. Without them, family members may be left guessing or even fighting over what you “would have wanted.” - Durable Financial Power of Attorney
This authorizes a trusted person (called an agent) to manage finances—paying bills, accessing accounts, managing property—if you can’t. In Washington and Oregon, and many other states, a properly drafted power of attorney can save thousands by avoiding court-appointed guardianship. - Will or Revocable Living Trust
These ensure that when the time comes, your assets are distributed according to your wishes. A trust can also allow your affairs to be handled privately and outside of probate, easing the burden on your family.
HIPAA Release
This allows loved ones to access your medical information to help coordinate care and support.
Protecting Against Financial Strain
A serious health diagnosis often comes with serious financial strain. In Washington and Oregon, the average monthly cost of long-term care can exceed $12,000 per month. Without planning, savings, retirement accounts, and even a family home can be quickly depleted.
An experienced elder law and estate planning attorney can help you explore options such as:
- Medicaid planning strategies to protect assets while qualifying for benefits
- Using trusts to preserve property for a spouse or children
- Reviewing insurance and retirement account beneficiary designations to ensure alignment with your plan
By acting early, you maximize options to shield your family’s financial future.
The Gift of Peace for Families
We’ve seen it many times: families already under the weight of a health crisis feel an immense sense of relief once a solid estate plan is in place. Instead of scrambling to figure out “what to do,” they can focus on what matters most—time together, meaningful conversations, and shared memories.
One client once shared after signing her estate planning documents during breast cancer treatment: “I can finally breathe again. I don’t feel like a burden anymore. My family knows what to do, and I know they’ll be okay.”
That is the true power of estate planning—it restores peace of mind when life feels most uncertain.
Take the Next Step
If you or someone you love has received a serious health diagnosis, know this: you don’t have to figure everything out at once, and you don’t have to do it alone.
At Pettis Webber Pacific, we help families in Washington and Oregon design plans that honor their wishes, protect their assets, and ease the path forward for their loved ones.
Click here to schedule a consultation with our team today. The best time to plan is now—before you need it.
P.S. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you know a friend or loved one who is navigating a diagnosis, share this article with them. Sometimes the greatest gift you can give is the reminder that they have options, and they are not alone.