THE BUILDING BLOCKS OF ESTATE PLANNING
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
The will is the formal document by which a person distributes his real, personal, and mixed property upon death. We take care to ensure that the family concerns of the planner are addressed, as well as achieving financial and tax benefits available to the particular estate.
DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY
The durable power of attorney authorizes someone to act on behalf of a person in the event of disability without death. By planning for such possibilities, problems associated with document execution or making payments on behalf of a person during an extended disability are alleviated.
HEALTHCARE POWER OF ATTORNEY
A healthcare power of attorney names a close and trusted friend or family member as the party responsible for making healthcare decisions in the event of disability of the person involved. These decisions can include end of life decisions about extraordinary measures or discontinuation of life support.
ADVANCED PHYSICIANS DIRECTIVE
An alternative to the healthcare power of attorney, an advanced directive is a document which directs physicians in the event of disability. The typical advanced directive directs physicians to refrain from extraordinary life support measures, and may include a DNR or "do not resuscitate" directive. Because some jurisdictions have not honored advanced directives if the mental state of the maker comes into question, a healthcare power of attorney is sometimes seen as a more desirable alternative.
