It is best to consider all possibilities when making plans to protect your family.
As part of your estate plan, you might consider that while you are at the attorney's office you should also get plans for what might happen if you become incapacitated, according to the Times Herald-Record discusses in "Make plans in case you are incapacitated."
The issue is that if you are incapacitated, someone else needs the legal authority to act on your behalf. Someone will need to be able to pay your bills and to make medical decisions for you if you are incapable of doing so.
If you do not plan ahead, it can be an expensive and difficult process for someone else to get the legal authority to handle your affairs and make medical decisions for you. Someone will have to hire an attorney and go to court to get a judge's permission to act as your guardian.
Fortunately, planning for what will happen if you become incapacitated is not difficult. Generally speaking, you would most likely need a general durable power of attorney and a health care power of attorney.
An experienced estate planning attorney can advise you on creating an estate plan that fits your unique circumstances.
Reference: Times Herald-Record (Dec. 12, 2017) "Make plans in case you are incapacitated."
Comments