As a member of the military, you know that you could receive deployment orders at any time. Before you leave for your destination, it is practical to square away your personal and legal business. Here are some tips for getting ready for deployment. 

Arrange Legal Documents

While you are away, there are certain financial and legal obligations that you still have. For instance, if you have minor children, your children will still need to be cared for. It is important that you take legal steps to ensure that your financial legal obligations are handled. 

One way to do this is to give someone you trust a power of attorney. This will give him or her the authority to pay bills, register your car, and oversee other financial matters while you are away. Your attorney can help you decide just how much power you want to give the person. You can even place a time limit on how long the person has control. 

If you have minor children and are caring for the children alone, you need to select a legal guardian. You need to decide if the guardian named serves for only the time period you are away. In the event that you are unable to return at the expected time or you pass away while deployed, you should decide if your guardian is able to take on the commitment of raising the children longer or until they are 18 years of age. 

Assess Your Insurance Policies

Your insurance policy is an important part of estate planning, but there is a good chance you will overlook it when preparing for deployment. Unfortunately, failing to assess your insurance properly could leave you uninsured or without the coverage needed. 

Talk to your auto insurance agent to find out if you can get a reduced policy that will cover your car while you are away if you plan to store the car during that time. If another person will be driving your car, add him or her to your policy to ensure the car is covered.

You also need to ensure that your family's medical and dental insurance is paid and able to cover the period you are deployed. Contact Tricare to view your coverage. Also review your life insurance to ensure you have the right beneficiary. 

Estate planning is just as important when you are being deployed as it is when you are at home. Taking care of your personal, legal, and financial matters helps to provide a peace of mind to your family and friends that you leave to handle your business while you are away on deployment.