Whether you think it’s worth putting down on paper or not, you have an estate and you have assets. No matter the size, you should always have a plan for what happens to your belongings after your death. It saves your family and friends undue amounts of stress, and it can be some reassuring peace of mind while you’re alive.
However, not many people take the time to really think about what should happen if they’re incapacitated or otherwise unable to make their own major decisions. As an elder law lawyer, can explain, age happens to everyone – but in some cases it can hit particularly hard, especially in those with a family history of dementia and Alzheimer’s.
When you get in touch with an elder law lawyer to plan out your estate, you’re taking steps to plan out what happens after your death. However, when you meet with your legal team, it’s also a good opportunity to plan out the durable power of an
elder law lawyer or a guardianship in case you’re no longer able to care for yourself and others while you’re still alive. Read on to learn more about guardianship and power of attorney, and see how the right lawyer can help.
What is Guardianship?
Whether you have children, elderly relatives, or adult relatives with disabilities, you provide them with care and quality of life, and they rely on you for continued care. However, if you’re somehow incapacitated and no longer able to care for them, you should have a solid plan to ensure they retain the same quality of life. This is where guardianship comes in.
When you name a guardian for your relative – or relatives – you’re naming a trusted individual to carry on responsibilities of care in your place. If you name someone as the guardian of the person, they’re responsible for all personal care: housing, food, shelter, and anything else your family member might need. If you name someone as the guardian of the estate, they’re in charge of strictly finances.
It goes without saying that your named guardian should be someone you should trust absolutely to provide care in your absence. With the help of your elder law lawyer, you can go over potential candidates and choose who would be the best fit for the job. And when you get in touch with your elder law lawyer, you can look into granting someone power of attorney as well.
What is Power of Attorney?
When you grant someone power of attorney, you’re giving them legal permission to act in your name. This means they’ll be in charge of making major financial and life decisions on your behalf. Durable power of attorney applies when you’re no longer able to care for yourself. If, for example, you’re struck with a serious illness or have been in an unexpected and catastrophic accident, you’ll need someone you can trust calling the shots when you aren’t able to.
As with guardianship, power of attorney should only be granted to people who you trust, and people who have your best interests in mind. Fortunately, when you get in touch with an elder law attorney, you can plan out your future and decide who’s the best choice for power of attorney.
Contact and Elder Law Lawyer Today
All these decisions are major and shouldn’t be taken lightly. And they especially shouldn’t be taken without proper legal counsel. Get in touch with an elder law lawyer today, and see how they can help you plan for any emergencies that might come up in your future.
Reach out to an elder law lawyer at
McCarthy Law, LLC for all of your needs today.
