A health care directive is one of those documents that is easy to sign, file away, and forget about. But when a serious illness or accident occurs, it can become one of the most important documents in your estate plan.

A will can help you accomplish a number of important estate planning goals. For example, it allows you to direct how property that is subject to your will should be distributed after your death.

Most of us know we should have a healthcare directive, stating our wishes for end-of-life treatment and appointing someone to make health decisions for us if we are unable.