Holiday Travel and Planning: What If Something Happens While You’re Away?

A seasonal guide from The Lansky Law Firm

The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you are finishing the leftover Halloween candy, and the next you are booking flights, mapping out road trips, thawing turkeys, and debating over real or fake trees.

But as joyful (and chaotic) as December travel can be, it is also one of the highest-risk times of year for unexpected emergencies. Snowstorms, icy roads, crowded airports, and tightly packed schedules create more opportunities for things to go sideways. And while we cannot bubble-wrap life or the people we love, we can put strong protections in place.

This is where incapacity planning quietly does its best work and where The Lansky Law Firm helps families prepare for the unexpected long before it happens.

If something were to occur while you were several states away, the last thing you would want is for your family to be powerless because essential legal documents were not in place. A few key planning tools make all the difference.

Financial Power of Attorney

If you were hospitalized out of state or delayed overseas with no way to communicate, someone must have the legal authority to:

• Pay your bills

• Handle your banking

• Manage insurance issues

• Oversee year-end financial responsibilities

Without a valid Financial Power of Attorney, your loved ones may be forced to seek court-ordered guardianship or conservatorship, a process that becomes even slower and more stressful during the holiday season.

The Lansky Law Firm ensures your documents are clear, enforceable, and ready when your family needs them.

Healthcare Power of Attorney and HIPAA Authorization

If you become unconscious or unable to speak, your family cannot legally receive updates or make medical decisions without the proper legal documents. Hospitals do not make exceptions because it is Christmas week.

By preparing these documents with The Lansky Law Firm, you ensure that the person you trust can:

• Speak directly with your doctors

• Access your medical records

• Advocate for your wishes

• Make decisions on your behalf

This is one of the most important forms of protection you can have while traveling.

Guardianship Nominations for Parents of Young Children

Every parent has quietly wondered what would happen if they did not make it home.

Guardianship nominations allow you not a judge to decide who will care for your children if you cannot. Without these documents, the court may have to choose someone for you, and that decision may not reflect your wishes.

The Lansky Law Firm helps parents prepare legally sound and customized guardianship nominations to protect their children.

Access to Your Documents

Even the strongest legal documents are useless if no one knows where to find them.

The Lansky Law Firm encourages families to:

• Store documents digitally in a secure, easy-to-access location

• Make sure your chosen agents know how to retrieve them

• Carry a simple emergency card listing key contacts

This small step is one of the most overlooked and one of the most important.

The Travel Factor: Real Risk, Not Alarmism

Here are a few reasons planning matters even more around the holidays:

• November through January sees some of the highest accident-related ER visits

• More than half of Americans travel long distances during the holiday season

• Airports reach peak congestion, increasing delays, stress, and health risks

These aren’t scare tactics, they are reminders that December amplifies existing planning gaps. The Lansky Law Firm encourages reviewing your documents before you pack your bags.

Before You Zip Your Suitcase, Ask Yourself:

• Are my financial and medical powers of attorney updated?

• Does someone know where these documents are stored and how to access them?

• Have I reviewed guardianship nominations for my minor children?

• If something happened while traveling, would my family be legally empowered to help?

If any answer is “no” or “I’m not sure,” it is time to address it.

Holiday estate planning may not sound festive, but it is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family: clarity, protection, and fewer what-ifs. After all, the season is about the people we love most and planning simply makes it easier to take care of them, no matter what the weather brings.

Peace of Mind through Preparation

If you want the security of knowing your legal documents are complete and your family is protected this holiday season,

The Lansky Law Firm is here to help.

Visit Us: 6800 Poplar Ave #225, Memphis, TN 38138 

Call Us: (901) 767-7006 

Learn More: www.lanskylawfirm.com

Take the time to safeguard your family’s future today and travel with peace of mind.