A “Minimum-Viable” Affairs-in-Order Checklist

Recently, I was interviewed by a student journalist from NAU who writes for The Lumberjack. During the interview, she asked me a question that stopped me in my tracks: have I seen an increase in people wanting to get their estate planning done after the killing of Renée Good in Minnesota?

She shared that she had attended a training recently where people who plan to show up in protest — or serve as legal observers — were being advised to complete their wills and get their affairs in order before they go.

I remember feeling a wave of grief hearing that. Not because the advice is wrong, but because it’s heartbreaking to imagine that this is the state of things right now: people stepping forward with the understanding that the risks are real, and that they may not be safe.

Some people are showing up publicly — in protest, as legal observers, and through mutual aid — to protect their neighbors and stand up for constitutional rights. And others are simply trying to live their lives while feeling more vulnerable than they ever should because of the color of their skin, their accent, their immigration status, or the fear that a normal day could turn into a crisis.

In moments like these, we can’t control everything. But we can put practical protections in place for the people we love.

What follows is a minimum viable checklist — not a perfect plan, not a comprehensive legal guide — just a clear starting place for getting your affairs in order when life feels uncertain.

A “Minimum-Viable” Affairs-in-Order Checklist

1) Make a care plan for your kids (and your pets)

If you have children or pets depending on you, it’s important to have two layers of planning:

Emergency care plan:

Who picks them up today if you don’t come home?

Long-term care plan:

Who steps in if you’re injured, detained, hospitalized, or unable to parent for an extended period?

Helpful steps:

• Write down who you want to care for your kids or pets

• Make sure that person has the practical info they need (school, daycare, allergies, medications, routines)

• Create a simple “care instructions” page

• Make sure the right adults have the authority they need to act quickly

This is one of the most loving, stabilizing things you can do for your family.

2) Make a plan for how your life keeps running financially

If something happens to you, someone may need to:

• pay your rent/mortgage

• keep utilities on

• cover childcare or pet care

• access money for basic needs

• keep your household stable during a crisis

A Financial Power of Attorney is often the minimum legal tool that allows a trusted person to manage essential financial tasks if you can’t.

3) Make a plan for what happens to your assets

At a minimum, this usually includes a Will.

But there’s one important thing many people don’t realize:

A will does not avoid probate court.

So if one of your goals is to keep your family out of court — and keep things smoother, more private, and less stressful — a trust may be worth learning about, depending on your situation.

4) Make a healthcare plan for “if I can’t speak for myself”

If you’re injured or unconscious, your loved ones may need to:

• talk with doctors

• make medical decisions

• get updates about your condition

• advocate for your care

Helpful tools can include:

• a Medical Power of Attorney

• a Living Will

• a HIPAA Authorization so the right people can access information

These documents reduce confusion and delay during emergencies.

5) Make your plan easy to access

A plan only helps if someone can find it.

At a minimum:

• keep your documents in a safe, known place

• give copies to the people you named

• tell them where the current version is stored

• have the conversation in advance, before it’s urgent

The goal is not perfection — it’s protection

In uncertain times, taking steps like these isn’t pessimism.

It’s leadership.

It’s care.

It’s choosing peace where you can.

Even a simple plan can make the difference between your loved ones feeling panicked and lost… versus steady and supported.