Practice Groups →Trusts & Estates
Advanced Directives & Powers of Attorney
No estate plan is complete without documents that address what happens if you become unable to speak or act for yourself.
A medical emergency, sudden illness, or cognitive decline can leave family members and loved ones without the legal authority to help you, even when they are exactly the people you want to be making decisions.
Four documents make the biggest difference in this situation. A Power of Attorney, with appropriate gifting authority, gives someone you trust the authority to manage your financial and legal affairs. A Health Care Proxy designates a person to make medical decisions on your behalf. A Living Will (also called an advance directive) puts your own voice in the room when medical decisions are being made about your care. A HIPAA Authorization grants people you choose with access to medical information.
These documents, when prepared with thought and care, can ease the burden and stress on families in crisis. We help clients understand what each document does, choose the right people to serve in each role, and execute the paperwork correctly so it will hold up when it matters most.
Predictable options begin with a conversation.
Tell us what is in front of you. We will help you understand your options and what each one involves.