
What Is Elder Law?
Estate Planning may not be something you necessarily WANT to think about, but it could protect your interests and wishes long after you are gone.
Estate Planning may not be something you necessarily WANT to think about, but it could protect your interests and wishes long after you are gone.
Whether you drew up a will recently or years ago, keep in mind it’s generally not something you can set and forget.
Most people should have a will, but it’s rarely the most significant estate planning document an individual holds.
While estate planning can be emotionally taxing, since you must consider a time after your own passing, it is important to be proactive, both for yourself and for loved ones.
Picture this…your child is in the hospital, but the on-call doctor won’t talk to you let alone allow you to weigh in on medical decisions. While hospitalized, your child’s bills are going unpaid because you can’t access their accounts—potentially wreaking havoc on their financial credit. Why? Because they’re over the age of 18.
Estate planning is making decisions today for what you want to happen in the future.
One reason for having a will is to make sure your wishes are carried out. If you die “intestate” (without a will), your assets will be distributed by state law, not by your desires.
As a legal adult after attaining the age of 18, your child should have in place several legal documents that will allow you to provide support and obtain information, if something unexpected happens to your child.
Discussing estate planning with your parents is a conversation that can be difficult to have. You might not want to think about the day they are no longer here, or even consider that they might experience a decline in health that severely limits their ability to think clearly or communicate with you.
Here’s what you need to consider, when looking to hire an elder law attorney.