A medical power of attorney allows you to choose an agent who can act on your behalf. You give this agent the legal power to make medical decisions for you. This is useful if you've been incapacitated and can no longer communicate your wishes.

That being said, most people have not done their estate planning at all and do not have this document in place. Let's look at some of the important reasons to make one.

You get a say in your medical future

First and foremost, setting this up in advance gives you more say in how your medical decisions are made because you can talk to your agent and tell them what you would want. 

This can give you peace of mind. It's also just wise to communicate your wishes before any incapacitating event – such as a stroke or heart attack – takes place. People often just assume they will always be able to make their own choices, but it's good to have a backup plan if you can't.

It takes pressure off of family members

The next thing to remember is that your family members may be pressed into duty to make these decisions. Setting up an advance directive takes some of the pressure off of them. It can help to define your wishes as you select the person who you would like to make those decisions for you. All of this can make it easier for your family members to move forward. 

If you would like to set up such a document, just make sure you know about the legal steps to take to do so. As with all estate planning, it is never too early to get started.