Tag: medical power of attorney

How to choose a health care power of attorney

How to choose a health care power of attorney

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A health care power of attorney or health care surrogate is someone you name to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to due to mental or physical incapacity. Depending on your state, the document you create is a health care power of attorney, medical power of attorney, or health care surrogate. You designate a surrogate or agent who will follow your health care wishes. If necessary, they will also follow your living will or advance medical directives.

You want to choose someone close to you that you trust. However, you should think carefully about who is best suited for the task of making tough decisions.

5 questions to ask your power of attorney

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Sandwich Generation Infographic: Statistics and Trends

Sandwich Generation Infographic: Statistics and Trends

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This Sandwich Generation infographic courtesy of caringpeopleinc.com shows the latest statistics of those caring for children and aging parents.

Highlights about the Sandwich Generation

  • 44% of people aged 45-55 have at least one parent still living and at least one child under the age of 21.
  • 66% of senior caregivers are women.
  • 15% of people in their middle ages are financially supporting their parents and children.
  • 84% of caregivers have responded that they are happy or very happy in their role as a caregiver.
  • 21% of Hispanics, mostly women, are caregivers for both their parents and children.
  • Caregivers face personal, financial, and emotional stress in their responsibilities as a caregiver.

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How to Create a Family Information Binder

How to Create a Family Information Binder

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What is the best way to communicate with family members about your medical, financial, and legal documents and information? Create a Family Information Binder.

When my Florida law practice drafted estate planning documents, we would present our clients with a Legal & Financial Family Information Binder. This was a binder where they could put all their estate planning documents and important financial information in one place.

We called it the “911 Binder,” meaning that when you got a call from the hospital, you had one place to go to for the Health Care Power of Attorney. If you needed to go to a bank, you had the Financial Power of Attorney as well as a list of bank accounts and the key to a safety deposit box.

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Estate planning during a pandemic – documents to consider

Estate planning during a pandemic – documents to consider

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As we deal with the challenges of the current Covid-19 crisis it is important to look for ways to protect your family. Many things can happen during this time. You want to prepare for any scenario. Estate planning during a pandemic is helpful in case of any sudden illness or hospitalization.

A comprehensive estate plan covers many of life’s contingencies. A will is important but only comes into play at your death. There are other estate planning documents that help you during life events. For example, a sudden illness or medical emergency.

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Estate planning checklist to jump start your estate planning

Estate planning checklist to jump start your estate planning

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Estate planning is critical not only to provide for your loved ones after your death, but also to protect yourself and them while you are alive. If you are suddenly incapacitated, who will take care of your financial, medical, and legal decisions? But how can you put together a comprehensive estate plan? Where do you start? Follow this helpful estate planning checklist to see what to update and what to put on your “to-do” list:

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Interview on The Income Generation Show

Interview on The Income Generation Show

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Interview with David Scranton on the Income Generation - Air Date 3/7/2019

I was honored to be asked back on the Income Generation Show with David J. Scranton. Although it was a brief interview, we covered many important topics:

  • Why is estate planning important to the “Sandwich Generation”?

  • How estate planning is as important during your life as it is at your death

  • How can you encourage aging parents to get started on their estate planning

  • How to organize legal documents in case of emergency: The 911 Binder

  • Three pieces of advice for estate planning

Click on the above link to watch the clip.

What is a living will? An explanation of advance medical directives

What is a living will? An explanation of advance medical directives

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A living will or advance medical directive is a legal document in which you declare, in the event of a terminal or end-of-life condition, to withhold or withdraw life prolonging measures.

This is important to determine what measures you want (or don’t want) to artificially extend your life. While this is an unpleasant decision to think about, it is more distressing to your loved ones. They will be the ones faced with these decisions. Especially if there is a difference of opinion among them. Of course, your loved ones want to do the “right” thing. However, there is often disagreement about what the “right” course of action is.

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It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week!

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Did you know October 19 – October 25th, 2020 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week?

Now you do!

Here are some fun facts:

  • National Estate Planning Awareness Week is celebrated in the 3rd week of October.

  • The National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC) led the effort to educate people about the importance of estate planning.

  • It was passed by Congress in 2008.

And here are not so fun facts:

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How to choose an estate planning attorney

How to choose an estate planning attorney

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Finally, you want to get your estate plan together. Good for you! Taking steps now will help you and protect your family in the event of your incapacity and death. Once you start the process you will find out it is easier than doing paperwork for a mortgage. But now you have to find an attorney to help you.

But, how do you find the right one? What should you expect?

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For richer or poorer: Having a financial conversation with your spouse

For richer or poorer: Having a financial conversation with your spouse

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Having a financial conversation with your spouse may be harder than scheduling a date night. While it may be boring and uncomfortable going over finances and budgets, it is important for your family’s financial health. Talking about spending and saving gets you and your spouse on the same page working together towards your shared goals.

Many times, one spouse primarily pays the bills and manages the money. What happens if the spouse handling the money suddenly becomes incapacitated or dies? The spouse left behind has to figure out everything.

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