The time to handle this is before he deploys, not after. Military life brings risks that most standard estate plans do not cover. A few key papers set up now can protect your son, his family, and his assets while he serves overseas.
Essential Documents Every Service Member Needs
Before he ships out, your son should have these papers in place:
- Will or trust: This makes sure his assets go where he wants. Without one, state law picks who inherits. That may not match his wishes.
- Durable power of attorney: This lets a trusted person handle his money, pay bills, manage bank accounts, and make legal choices while he is deployed and out of reach.
- Medical power of attorney: This names someone to make medical choices if he is hurt and cannot speak for himself. It is separate from the money power of attorney.
- Advance healthcare directive: This spells out his wishes for medical treatment. It covers life support measures if he is badly injured.
The base legal office can set up many of these papers at no cost. For more complex cases, like those with real estate, children from a prior marriage, or large assets, a civilian estate planning team may offer deeper coverage.
Update the Survivor Benefit Plan and Beneficiaries
Service members in the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) should check that their choices are current. The SBP pays a monthly amount to a surviving spouse or child if the service member dies. Named persons on the Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and any personal retirement accounts should also be reviewed.
These names override a will. If your son named an ex-spouse years ago and never changed the form, the ex-spouse gets the payout. Check every form before he deploys.
Protecting Assets While Deployed
The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) gives active-duty members key safeguards. These include caps on interest rates, shields against default court rulings, and the right to delay certain civil cases. These rules help make sure assets go where the plan says, not lost to legal actions while the member cannot respond.
If your son owns real estate, a car, or other titled property, make sure those assets are titled the right way. Or held in a trust. Doing this before he leaves avoids problems if something happens while he is away.
Keep Everything Organized and Accessible
Good estate planning for military members means keeping all papers in order and easy to find. Leave copies with a trusted family member and the base legal office. Include a list of all accounts, passwords, insurance policies, and contact info for advisors. If the worst happens, the people left behind should not have to search for the plan.
Urge your son to update his estate plan after every big life event. Marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or a change of duty station all call for a review. A skilled estate planning team can help make sure nothing gets missed. That is the peace of mind every military family deserves.