Legal Considerations
Legal Planning
A comprehensive Estate Plan will; protect assets, the “stuff” you have accumulated, designate someone to make medical decisions, if you become incapacitated, avoid probate, ensure a smoother transition of your assets and more.
Have you downloaded the template?
This will help guide you through this site. Learn More: www.aplan2age.org/plan.
Find Help with Estate Planning
Have you downloaded the template?
This will help guide you through this site. Learn More: www.aplan2age.org/plan.
Parts of the estate plan
WILL
Trust
Living Will
A living will outline a person’s wishes for medical treatment and health care decisions if they’re unable to communicate their wishes. They are written, legal instructions regarding your preferences for medical care if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.
This is a starting point and can be amended at any time. This is how you want your loved ones to handle your financial wishes when you pass away.
Health Directive
Very important in the case you have a health emergency, and you are not capable of making your own medical treatment decisions. This should be someone very close to you, either a spouse or child.
Power of Attorney
A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that gives someone else the authority to act on your behalf in financial, medical, or other matters. This should be someone very close to you, either a spouse or adult child.
Other Potential Legal Needs
If you find yourself needing to manage the financial, personal affairs, and/or care of another person, here are some options to review:
Guardianship
There are two main types of legal guardianship, both of which consist of appointing a person to act on behalf of another. In this case, this would include guardianship of a person. The individual is expected to act responsibly as caretaker. This should be someone very close to you, either a spouse or child.
Conservatorship
Conservatorship is a legal status in which a court appoints a person to manage the financial and personal affairs of an incapacitated person. A conservator may also serve as a guardian who is responsible for establishing and monitoring the physical care of the individual and managing their living arrangements.