Although laws vary from state to state, every state requires that less restrictive alternatives be considered before invoking a guardianship. These might include such vehicles as limited guardianships, powers of attorney or assisted decision-making agreements.
Estate planning is not just for the wealthy. Anyone with a bank account, house, car or other personal property should have a will.
The thought of preparing your own will might feel a little daunting, bringing an onslaught of emotions like fear or sadness.
Accidents happen. Illnesses can strike anyone unexpectedly. So, take a moment to get a few basic estate planning tasks out of the way. You—and the people you love—will be glad you did.
Even Consumer Reports suggests working with an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure documents are correctly prepared.
What do these appointments mean to the person(s) named to act? What happens if they fail or decline to act? Can the planning appoint alternative representatives?
We all want to protect vulnerable people from harm. However, taking away all their rights usually isn’t the place to start. Instead, there are several less severe options that could be the right way to go.
The three main areas of focus for elder law attorneys include health care, estate and tax planning and guardianship matters.
So, what happens with your estate plans if you are not in a traditional nuclear family? There is quite a lot that can fall under the umbrella of a non-traditional family, and the recommendations will vary depending on your specific circumstances.
Here are some important parts of your estate plan that should be reviewed.