Without valid legal documents, you will be leaving the decision up to your state's proxy, guardianship or conservatorship laws. And the representatives who may be appointed by a court may not be whom you would want. Naming your representatives while you are of sound mind will prevent that undesirable result and gives you control over your affairs — even when you can't speak for yourself. These tips will help you with the decision-making process to determine who the right representatives are to best serve your interests in life and beyond. How far ahead you should plan? Even if you're young and healthy today, plan like you'll need caregiving tomorrow. Tragedy does not discriminate, and the unexpected may happen. While that's a scary thought to many, this can also be a helpful thought when making your legal documents. Here's why: When you're selecting your future representatives, you don't need to think about who it should be in five, 10 or 20 years. My clients say things like, “My brother is a good choice today, but he'll be too old in 10 years to caregive for someone else.” My response is always, “If he's a good choice today, then you have your answer. Ten years is a long way away.”