What to Do After a Terminal Diagnosis: Legal, Financial, and Personal Planning in Pennsylvania

Few moments in life are more profound and disorienting than receiving a terminal diagnosis. Whether for yourself or a loved one, it can feel like the ground has shifted beneath your feet. Alongside the flood of emotions—grief, fear, anger, and sometimes even peace—there comes a pressing need to make decisions that matter.

As attorneys serving Pennsylvania families through some of life’s most challenging chapters, we at Ament Law Group, P.C. are committed to walking with our clients—not just with legal precision, but with empathy. This article outlines the key steps to consider after a terminal diagnosis. These are not just legal and financial moves—they are acts of care and agency in the face of life’s most difficult moments.

1. Take a Breath—and Gather Support

Before addressing legal checklists, allow yourself to feel. It's okay to pause and process. Then, begin building a circle of support—not just doctors and specialists, but also:

• Mental health professionals (grief counselors, therapists)

• Spiritual advisors (clergy, chaplains)

• Family and close friends

• A legal and financial team to help shoulder the burden of planning

2. Review and Update Estate Planning Documents

Last Will and Testament

A valid will ensures that your assets pass according to your wishes. In Pennsylvania, to be legally binding, a will must:

• Be in writing

• Be signed by the testator (or someone at their direction)

• Be signed at the end

• Be made with testamentary capacity and intent

Now is the time to review or execute a new will. Life changes—such as divorce, remarriage, estranged children, or a terminal illness—are critical triggers for a new plan.

Durable Financial Power of Attorney

This document appoints someone to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated. It avoids costly guardianship proceedings and keeps control within trusted hands.

Pennsylvania powers of attorney must include specific notice and acknowledgment forms and be signed before a notary and two adult witnesses.

Health Care Power of Attorney & Living Will

This appoints a health care agent to make medical decisions on your behalf and outlines your end-of-life preferences (life support, feeding tubes, etc.).

Consider carefully what “extraordinary measures” mean to you. Make your preferences known and review them with your appointed agent.

3. Consider Creating a Revocable Living Trust

In cases of complex assets, real estate in multiple states, or concerns over privacy and probate delays, a revocable living trust may be appropriate. This allows your assets to be managed during your lifetime and distributed without probate after your death.

Tip: Real property in other states (e.g., a beach house in Delaware) can trigger multiple probate processes. A trust avoids that.

4. Plan for Final Disposition and Funeral Preferences

Discuss and document your wishes for:

• Burial or cremation

• Religious or spiritual ceremonies

• Special readings, music, or participants

• Memorial donations in lieu of flowers

Pennsylvania permits a separate “final disposition directive” or a statement within your will. You can also prepay or prearrange funeral services under the Funeral Directors Law.

Empowering loved ones with clear instructions can alleviate significant stress and prevent family disputes during a time of grief.

5. Organize Your Financial Affairs

Inventory Assets and Debts

• Real estate

• Bank accounts

• Investments

• Insurance policies

• Digital assets (online accounts, crypto wallets)

• Outstanding loans, credit cards, and obligations

Designate Beneficiaries

• Review life insurance, retirement accounts, and “payable on death” designations.

• Ensure they align with your estate plan.

Warning: Beneficiary designations override your will. A mismatch can create unintended results.

Secure Important Documents

Keep originals (or accessible copies) of:

• Will and powers of attorney

• Insurance policies

• Deeds and vehicle titles

• Marriage, divorce, or adoption certificates

• Military discharge papers

• Passwords and account access details

6. Talk to Your Medical Team About Palliative Care and Hospice

Palliative care is focused on comfort, symptom management, and emotional support—at any stage of illness. Hospice care begins when curative treatment ends, typically when a prognosis is 6 months or less.

In Pennsylvania, hospice care can be provided:

• In-home

• At dedicated hospice centers

• In hospitals or nursing homes

Hospice is not “giving up”—it’s choosing dignity, presence, and control in the final chapter of life.

Also consider completing a Pennsylvania POLST (Practitioner Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment) form for your medical file, which can be followed by EMS personnel and hospital staff.

7. Address Digital Legacy and Online Life

In today’s world, we all leave a digital footprint. Be proactive:

• Appoint a digital executor if needed

• Leave instructions for social media accounts (e.g., Facebook memorialization)

• Organize access to important email or cloud storage accounts

8. Preserve Your Story and Say Goodbye

Not everything that matters is legal. Consider:

• Writing letters to loved ones

• Creating memory books or video messages

• Sharing family recipes, beliefs, or hopes

• Giving gifts or keepsakes with meaning

These acts of legacy give loved ones comfort, connection, and a tangible sense of your ongoing presence.

9. Communicate Openly With Family

Many people avoid these conversations, fearing sadness or awkwardness. But silence often creates confusion and conflict.

Open communication helps:

• Avoid disputes over health decisions

• Clarify roles (e.g., health agent, executor)

• Set expectations about care, costs, and values

💬 "I want to talk about this because I love you, not because I’m giving up.”

10. Lean on Legal and Emotional Support

You don’t have to do this alone. Legal professionals, care coordinators, and counselors can help bring clarity, peace, and direction.

At Ament Law Group, P.C., we serve as a compassionate legal resource for Pennsylvania residents navigating life’s most sensitive transitions. We’ll guide you through:

• Estate planning and trust setup

• Advance health care directives

• Funeral planning coordination

• Probate and estate administration for family members

Final Thoughts: A Path Forward With Peace

Facing a terminal diagnosis is never easy—but neither is it without purpose. With courage and planning, this chapter of life can be marked not by fear, but by meaning, connection, and care for those you love.

You have the right to make your own choices about how your life is remembered, how your assets are distributed, and how your loved ones are supported.

Let us help you make those choices with confidence.

If you or a loved one has received a terminal diagnosis and need help navigating your legal options, please don’t wait. Reach out today to begin a conversation grounded in compassion, respect, and clarity.

Call Ament Law Group, P.C. at (724) 733-3500
Or visit www.ament.law to schedule your confidential consultation. We are here to help you make each decision count.