Our long, hot summer is now over and while we look ahead to the holidays, it is a good time to think about your future and, if you have children, their future.
Do you have a Will? Does your Will reflect your current family situation? Have you already planned for the Guardianship of your minor children or yourself, in the event of your disability? Do you have a Power of Attorney? Or what about a Medical Power of Attorney and Medical Directive? Are your children visiting grandparents out of town this summer? Do the grandparents have HIPAA and Healthcare Agent consent forms in place in case your child needs medical care while away? Do you have a student heading to college? Does she have her Medical Power of Attorney, Durable Power of Attorney and HIPAA consent forms in place? With the correct estate planning tools, you can plan for the unexpected.
Every individual should have the following legal documents:
- Last Will and Testament
- Guardianship (for self and for minor children)
- Statutory Durable Power of Attorney
- Medical Power of Attorney
- HIPAA Authorization
- Medical Directive (also known as the Living Will)