Estate Planning

Providing for loved ones is a cardinal responsibility that many take on as they grow older. Whether it be children, siblings, spouses, or personal friends, what once may have only been reserved for the immediate family has expanded along with the definition of a family. For enduring care and love to be provided, ensuring your assets gained over a long life are distributed as you see fit is a consideration that is all but required in the modern era.

From powers of attorney to trusts and wills, entering the world of estate planning can be daunting. While there are endless resources online that promise quick and simple solutions, that is seldom the case. Since states and even counties hold such specific guidelines and regulations surrounding estate plans, even one misstep or inaccuracy can result in the unraveling of much of your work and potentially many of your hard­ earned assets as well. To avoid this tragic possibility, a Top Estate Planning Attorney can ensure that all documentation is filed correctly the first time, as well as tailoring your estate plan to fit your unique circumstances.

While it is never too early to begin estate planning processes, it can, unfortunately, be too late. If an individual is unable to make decisions for himself or has succumbed to an unexpected tragedy, he may lose his ability to make his own decisions. In such a case, establishing powers of attorney is paramount. By establishing financial and medical powers of attorney, you grant a trusted party close to you the authority to make decisions on your behalf in the event you are unable to. These decisions include healthcare options, critical financial decisions, and anything else that requires sound judgment.

For example, suppose an individual with no estate plan or established powers of attorney was unexpectedly incapacitated and kept alive at the hospital. The family’s only option at that point would be to seek guardianship, which is a court proceeding. It is time consuming and expensive, which are commodities you do not have in an emergency. To help avoid this bleak prospect, hiring an Elder Law Attorney to prepare a Healthcare Proxy and Power of Attorney can ensure everything is in place in case of such event. In addition, an Elder Law Attorney can safeguard the remainder of the assets for the family’s benefit.