Plan your paperwork after a Parkinson's diagnosis
This guide covers paperwork only. Review your phone, account arrangements and important papers now, on your own terms. Choose whom you want involved and ask a lawyer in your state about any legal documents you need.
- 6 steps
- Paperwork only
- Checked October 14, 2026
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Review how you use your phone
Open your phone settings while you can work through them comfortably. Read the Apple Legacy Contact guide if you use Apple. Set up access arrangements yourself rather than sharing a passcode.
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Check your email arrangements
If you use Google, review Inactive Account Manager. Decide which data you would want shared and with whom. Write down where you keep the setup instructions, rather than your password.
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List the bills that need attention
Record the institutions you use and when regular bills fall due. Leave out account numbers. Ask a lawyer about authority to handle money and ask your bank what paperwork it accepts.
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Gather the papers for your car
Record where you keep the title, registration and insurance contact details. Write down whom to call with a question. Ask the relevant office about your situation before changing ownership or insurance.
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Check your benefits arrangements
Use Medicare permission if you want someone else to discuss your information. Separately, review Social Security advance designation. Each office has its own process.
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Choose one person to review the list
Ask them to find your contacts and paper locations while you are together. Correct missing details. Keep the decisions yours, and review the list when your circumstances change.
Good to know
Do you give medical advice?
No. This guide covers paperwork and account arrangements. Ask your care team about medical questions.
Is it too late to sign papers?
Ask a lawyer in your state now. Signing requirements depend on the document and your circumstances. This guide cannot decide whether you can sign.
Can my family help with this?
Yes, if you want them to. Choose what to share and keep control of your decisions. They can help find papers and write down the questions you want to ask.
What we checked
| Fact | Source | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Medicare needs your permission in writing before 1-800-MEDICARE shares your personal health information with someone else. Form CMS-10106 gives that permission. | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (03/2026) | Oct 14, 2026 |
| While you are able, you can name up to three people Social Security would consider first to manage your benefits if you ever can't. This is called advance designation of a representative payee. | Social Security Administration | Oct 14, 2026 |
| The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau publishes free guides for people managing money for someone else, including agents under a power of attorney. | Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Oct 14, 2026 |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Plan Before You Die isn't connected with Medicare or the U.S. government. Something wrong here? Tell us.