Holiday Travel and Planning: What If Something Happens While You’re Away?
The holiday season has a way of sneaking up on us. One minute you’re finishing the leftover Halloween candy, and the next you’re 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’s also one of the highest-risk times of year for unexpected emergencies. Snowstorms, icy roads, crowded airports, and packed schedules mean more opportunities for things to go sideways. And while we can’t bubble-wrap life (or our families), we can put safeguards in place.
This is where incapacity planning quietly does its best work.
If something happens while you’re several states away, the last thing you want is for your family to be unable to help because key legal documents aren’t in place.
A few core tools make all the difference:
Financial Power of Attorney. If you were stuck in the hospital in Denver or delayed overseas with no way to communicate, someone needs authority to: pay your bills, handle banking, deal with insurance matters, and manage other year-end financial responsibilities. Without this, your loved ones have to ask a judge for permission, through a guardianship or conservatorship, and holiday court schedules are notoriously slow.
Healthcare Power of Attorney and HIPAA Authorization. If you’re unconscious or unable to speak, doctors can’t legally speak to your family or take direction from them without proper authorizations. Medical providers don’t make exceptions because it’s Christmas week.
Guardianship Nominations (If You Have Young Children). Every parent worries, quietly, about what would happen if they couldn’t make it home. Clear nomination documents ensure your children are cared for by the people you trust, not chosen at random by whoever happens to be on duty at the courthouse.
Access to Your Documents. Even the best documents won’t help if no one can find them.
This time of year especially, it’s critical to store documents digitally in a secure, accessible location; make sure your agents know how to reach them; and carry an emergency card with key contacts listed. It’s one of the simplest, most overlooked steps… and one of the most important.
The Travel Factor: Real Risk, Not Alarmism
A few numbers put this into perspective:
- November–January is consistently one of the highest months for accident-related ER visits due to winter weather, increased driving, and travel fatigue.
- More than 50% of Americans travel during the holidays, many long distances.
- Airports report their highest congestion of the year, meaning more delays, more stress, and more opportunities for health complications, especially for older travelers.
None of this is meant to scare. It’s simply a reminder that December creates conditions where planning gaps become more visible.
So this year, before the suitcase is zipped, consider these questions:
- Do I have updated financial and medical powers of attorney?
- Does someone know where these documents are (and how to access them fast)?
- Have I reviewed guardian nominations for minor children?
- If something happened while traveling, would my family be legally empowered to help?
If the answer to any of these is “no” or “I think so, maybe,” it’s worth addressing before you pack the car with gifts and hot chocolate. Estate planning during the holidays may not sound festive, but it’s one of the most meaningful gifts you can give your family, to provide clarity, protection, and fewer what-ifs.
After all, the holidays are about the people we love. Planning just makes it easier to take care of them… whatever the weather may bring.
