Perspectives & Insights Article

Elizabeth Fisher, CTFA, Vice President, Trust & Fiduciary Advisor

As you prepare for an upcoming international trip, your focus is likely on the enjoyable details—booking flights, reserving hotels, and planning activities. One important area, however, is often overlooked: making sure your personal affairs are in order before you leave.

Travel, by its nature, is unpredictable. Delays, medical issues, and other unexpected situations can arise on even the most well-thought-out trips. A little preparation at home can make a meaningful difference if something unexpected happens during your travels and can give you—and your loved ones—peace of mind while you’re away.

Start with an Up-to-Date Estate Plan

Before traveling, take time to review your estate planning documents to ensure they reflect your current wishes. This includes documents such as your will, revocable trust, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. If you would like to make changes, the time before a trip is a good opportunity to contact your estate planning professional and address any modifications.

Having a current and accurate plan in place provides clarity and guidance for those who may need to act on your behalf in an emergency.

Identify and Notify Trusted Contacts

It is equally important to identify one or more trusted contacts—people you would rely on if decisions needed to be made while you are traveling. These individuals should know where your important documents are located, and how to access them if needed.

Before your trip, consider speaking with your trusted contacts to explain your plans and highlight any documents or information that may be especially important. Clear communication ahead of time can help reduce stress and confusion later.

Organize Key Documents and Information

Keeping important documents organized and accessible allows your trusted contacts to act quickly and in accordance with your wishes, should the need arise. Consider maintaining originals in a secure location and providing copies to your trusted contacts, or storing copies in a mutually agreed upon place. In some cases, your estate planning professional may also be willing to hold copies.

Examples of documents and information to gather include:

• Estate planning documents
• Healthcare information and insurance cards
• Financial account details
• Contact information for professional advisors

If you have minor children, this is also a good time to review guardianship arrangements to confirm they still align with your intentions.

Consider a Travel Letter of Instruction

A travel letter of instruction can be a helpful companion to your estate planning documents. This informal document can be prepared on your own and may include:

• Your travel itinerary, including flight and lodging details
• Emergency contact information, both at home and abroad
• Contact details for travel advisors or tour leaders
• Instructions related to pets, your home, or other responsibilities

Keeping this information in one place can make it easier for others to assist if needed.

Notify Financial Institutions Before You Leave

Before traveling, notify your bank and financial professionals of your plans. This can help prevent issues such as declined credit card transactions or delays due to fraud alerts. It also allows your advisors to be more vigilant if they receive unusual requests while you are out of the country.

Travel with Peace of Mind

Travel should be enjoyable. Taking a few thoughtful steps before you leave—reviewing your estate plan, organizing documents, and communicating with trusted contacts—can help ensure that you are prepared for the unexpected and free to enjoy your time away.

This material is intended for general consumer educational purposes and is not intended to provide legal, tax or investment advice. Always consult your tax advisor for specific tax advice.

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D.A. Davidson & Co. is a registered broker-dealer and registered investment adviser that does not provide tax or legal advice. Information contained herein has been obtained by sources we consider reliable but is not guaranteed and we are not soliciting any action based upon it. Any opinions expressed are based on our interpretation of the data available to us at the time of the original article. These opinions are subject to change at any time without notice. Copyright D.A. Davidson & Co., 2026. All rights reserved. Member FINRA and SIPC.