Protecting Your Voice: Why Every Adult Needs an Incapacity Plan
Most people think estate planning is about what happens after they pass away.
In reality, some of the most important estate planning decisions involve what happens during life.
If you were suddenly unable to communicate due to an illness, accident, stroke, or cognitive decline, who would make decisions on your behalf? Who would pay your bills, access your accounts, speak with your doctors, or ensure your wishes were honored?
These are difficult questions, but they are questions every adult should consider.

Protecting Your Legacy When Health Changes
Life rarely unfolds exactly as we expect. A sudden diagnosis, accident, or unexpected medical condition can shift priorities almost overnight. When health changes occur, individuals and families often find themselves thinking about the future in ways they may not have considered before.
During these moments, one question frequently arises: Are our affairs in order if something happens?

When families come to us in times of crisis, one of the first questions we often hear is: “Who has the right to make decisions for my loved one?”
Too often, the answer isn’t clear—because no health care directive or advance directive was ever put in place. Without this crucial document, families can be left scrambling, arguing, or even forced into court just to make medical decisions.
A health care directive is more than a form. It’s your voice in moments when you may not be able to speak for yourself.

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.