Life Planning Documents Attorneys

There are many different types of legal documents that can help you plan how your affairs will be handled in the future. Many of these documents have names that sound alike, so make sure you are getting the documents you want.

It is important to note that state laws differ on the requirements for validity of many of these documents. In most cases, if these documents are invalid, they are not even worth the paper on which they are written. Thus, it is important to consult a life planning documents attorney like ours from Castro & Co., who will be able to provide you with valid, enforceable documents that will achieve your planning goals.

If you need help establishing important documents concerning your estate or end-of-life treatment, contact us online or call (833) 227-8761 for help.

Important Documents for Your Estate Plan

There are many important documents that can direct how your health and property will be treated when you are no longer able or around to direct such matters.

Wills and Trusts, which let you name the person you want your money and property to go to after you die.

Advance Directives, which let you make arrangements for your care if you become sick. Two common types of advance directives are:

• A Living Will, which gives you a say in your health care if you become too sick to make your wishes known. In a living will, you can state what kind of care you do or do not want. This can make it easier for family members to make tough healthcare decisions for you.
• A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (also known as a Medical Power of Attorney) allows you to name the person you want to make medical decisions for you if you cannot make them for yourself.
  • A necessary corollary to the Medical Power of Attorney is a HIPAA Authorization. The HIPAA Authorization allows anyone named to make medical decisions for you to get information from the doctors about your condition to be able to make informed medical decisions on your behalf.
• Additionally, many states recognize a Declaration of Guardian. A Declaration of Guardian is somewhat different from the other documents discussed as it does not have any legal effect without the involvement of a court. Only a court may grant a guardianship because of the level of rights lost by the person subject to the guardianship. However, the Declaration of Guardian form provides an opportunity for you to communicate who you believe would be the best choice as a guardian for you if you ever need one. Also, the Declaration of Guardian form can be used to note any individuals that may not be qualified to serve as guardian.