A baby on the way changes everything, and the months before the birth are the calmest you’ll have for a while to get a few important things in place. Handling them now means that when the baby comes, you can focus on them, not paperwork. And like every milestone, it’s not just the pregnancy, it’s all the stuff attached to it. And remember, every path is unique; these are suggestions, not advice.
Lock in protection while it’s easy
Pregnancy is the moment to put coverage in place, it only gets harder to think about once the baby’s here.
- Lock in or increase term life insurance now, while you’re healthy and rates are low, once someone depends on you, this matters more than almost anything.
- Make sure you have a Health Care Proxy and a Power of Attorney in place, especially before the delivery itself.
- Start a Will that names a guardian, the person who’d raise your child if you couldn’t. Be sure to have a basic Will in place before you give birth.
Sort out work and leave
- Talk to HR early about parental leave, short-term disability, and FMLA, these have deadlines and paperwork that are easier handled before the due date.
- Review how your health plan covers the birth and a new dependent, and budget for the new costs.
Get a head start on the practical stuff
- Pick a pediatrician and a hospital, and store your prenatal records in your Gentreo Digital Vault.
- If you’ll need childcare, start looking now, waitlists often run months.
- Open or plan a 529 so you’re ready to save the moment the baby has a Social Security number.
Documents to consider
You don’t have to finish all of this before the baby comes, but the months before are the best window you’ll get. Set the foundation, and Gentreo helps you handle the rest once they arrive.
More anticipating. Less worrying.
Gentreo is not a law firm or a substitute for a law firm or attorney or an attorney’s advice. Gentreo provides self-help services at your specific direction.
