News & Articles

The Ultimate Overseas Travel Checklist (Legal Edition)

As the longest holiday of the year fast approaches, many of us are unapologetically counting down the days to Christmas; refreshing airline websites every hour, waiting for the perfect deals, and marking our calendars as a daily reminder of the day we get to depart to our exotic destinations.

However, before you start daydreaming about where your next adventure is taking you, whether it be sipping cocktails on an exotic island, or trekking through a snow storm in Iceland in pursuit of the Northern Lights, there are some basic legal questions that you should turn your mind to.

Although having the answer to these questions may not guarantee your popularity on Instagram #SummerVacay, it will give you and your loved ones a peace of mind if your dream holiday turns out to be not so dreamy.

Here is a checklist of basic legal matters that you should consider before traveling:

  1. Have you organised your passports and visas?
  2. Have you taken out travel insurance in case of a medical emergency or an unexpected incident?
  3. Have you registered your travel and contact details online?

HINT: You can register your travel and contact details online here to make it easier for authorities to contact you in an event of emergency, natural disaster or family issue.

  1. Do you have a valid Will in place?
  2. Have you appointed someone to be your legal and financial decision-maker on your behalf?

An Enduring Power of Attorney is a legal document that enables you to appoint a trusted person to make financial and/or property decision on your behalf. This document will enable your substitute decision-maker to contact the bank, order a new card or pay your bills on your behalf.

  1. Have you appointed someone to make health and lifestyle decisions on your behalf?

An Advanced Care Directive sets out your directions, including your wishes and values, that need to be considered before medical treatment decisions are made on your behalf.

Although thinking about things such as these can dim the light on the sunshine you are expecting, you and your loved ones will appreciate that these steps have been implemented when you are stuck with a blocked credit card in the middle of Hawaii, or injured on a skiing trip in Iceland.

If you are travelling overseas, or travelling for an extended period of time, you should turn your mind to having an Enduring Power of Attorney or Advanced Care Directive drawn up. These documents are relatively inexpensive in comparison to the amounts of fees that you or your loved ones might be up for if things don’t go according to plan, and can be quickly drawn up. Contact our team at Georgiadis Lawyers today to get your documents prepared!

Translate »