Living wills have received a great deal of attention due to the recent Terry Schiavo situation. Because her end-of-life wishes were in dispute, family members battled each other in the courts over her treatment and care. By having a proper Living Will, you can avoid such confusion. But a Living Will doesnt ensure you have all your bases covered. There are other equally important documents you must have in place.
(PRWEB) April 11, 2005 -- Guarding Your Wealth" is a nationally syndicated weekly personal finance column written by Jeffrey D. Voudrie, CFP. Mr. Voudrie is the President of Legacy Planning Group, a private wealth management firm that employs sophisticated proprietary strategies designed to protect and grow its clients' investments. Please visit our website, www.guardingyourwealth.com to read past articles in our archive.
A Living Will deals with end-of-life issues. But what if youre incapacitated—unable to make your own medical decisions-- for a short time? Who makes medical decisions for you then? What if youre widowed, divorced or unmarried and you dont have a spouse who can legally make medical decisions when you cant? A health care power of attorney allows you to state whom you choose to make medical decisions on your behalf should you not be able to make them yourself. You can also list alternates, should your first choice be unable or unwilling to serve.
A health care power of attorney is especially important for those who have lost a spouse and have several living children. Often if Mom or Dad become seriously ill, its the out-of-town child that pushes to do everything they can to extend their parents life. The last time they saw Mom, she was busy fixing Thanksgiving dinner. Now that shes in a coma, they have trouble grasping the concept that Mom will never be the same again. And if Mom doesnt wish to be hooked up to machines for weeks on end, her out-of-town child might not understand.
You can just imagine the kind of arguments that can arise when children dont agree on the proper care of their parent. You can eliminate that situation by designating one child to be your attorney-in-fact. Clearly state in writing through your Living Will and your health care power of attorney, what your specific wishes are. Communicate those to your children, especially your chosen representative. Then if the time comes, youve greatly eliminated any possible confusion and ambiguity.
A health care power of attorney is activated by your incompetence. Incompetence is often determined based on the opinion of two doctors. With the new HIPPA regulations, this can be a problem. For instance, your doctors may not be willing to offer that opinion citing HIPPA restrictions (HIPPAA does not restrict release of information in those situations). So make sure your health care power of attorney includes language authorizing the release of that information.
With all the focus on health care and medical issues, many people forget the practical financial issues that can arise when someone is incapacitated. Ive seen first hand situations where one spouse develops dementia but still has assets in his or her name. The other spouse is helpless to manage those assets or use them to help cover their loved ones care. In these cases, the courts have to determine guardianship, which is not only expensive, but emotionally draining for the family.
All this can be avoided with a Durable Power of Attorney for assets. In this document, you choose a representative to make financial decisions on your behalf. You determine when you would like their authority to begin. This makes it much easier to pay your bills, file your taxes, manage your retirement accounts, etc. And again you can list alternates in case something keeps your first choice from serving.
If you have minor children, theres one more document you really must have. The Appointment of Guardian states your choice for who will raise your children in the event of your death. The court still has to make guardianship official, but this document will clearly express your wishes. This document can help your kids avoid being caught in a legal tug-of-war.
As the Terry Schiavo case shows us, these documents arent just for the elderly. Having them in place will not only make it easier on your loved ones should the unfortunate happen to you, but they will also help ensure that you are properly cared for according to your wishes.
Got questions? Feel free to ask me at www.guardingyourwealth.com. Im in the enviable position of not having to garner new clients and Id be glad to give you my unbiased opinion. Visit our web site to read previously submitted questions and answers.
In addition to being a nationally syndicated columnist and Certified Financial Planning Practitioner, Mr. Voudrie serves clients nationwide using a proprietary money management system he's personally developed.
Looking for an energetic expert who is passionate about financial and wealth management? Mr. Voudrie is an excellent speaker who will excite and inspire your audience. Mr. Voudrie is available for a limited number of speaking engagements, television appearances and radio talk shows. For booking information, email jeff@guardingyourwealth.com.
Related Articles can be found at www.guardingyourwealth.com under the Guarding Your Wealth Article Archive:
When A Will Isn't The Way
Don't Be Left Holding The Bag
Protecting Your Beneficiary's Inheritance
Signed, Sealed, Delivered
Surviving Your Estate
When The Battle Begins At Home
Your Questions Answered - HRAs and POAs
Planning To Make Your Money Last Forever
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