Leaving your Legacy

Estate planning is one process that no one should ignore, however, most people spend more time planning a family vacation than planning their financial future. While making plans revolving around the end of your life may not be the most exciting thing on your to-do list, it’s something that you should make a priority. Tragedy can strike at any time, and you don’t want to be caught off guard. You may also be missing out on opportunities to make the most of your financial legacy.

Last Will & Testament

A Last Will & Testament allows you to clearly state your desires for distribution of your property and the care for minor children when you pass away. If you die without a will, the state law dictates how your property is distributed. The court will also decide who will be your executor and who will be named the guardian for your children. Without a will, depending on how complex your estate is, the probate process could take a long time, often years, which just creates an additional challenge for your family when they’re grieving.

Advance Directives: What happens if I become incapacitated or unable to make decisions for myself?

An advance directive can help ensure your preferences for various medical treatments are followed if you become unable to make your own health care decisions. An advance directive is meant to help you plan ahead and let others know what kind of care you want. It is used to guide your loved ones and health care team in making clear decisions about your health care if you can’t make medical decisions by yourself. These medical decisions may include special actions or emergency care from your health care team.

Living Wills

A living will, also known as an advance directive, is simply a legal document that which provides information for your treatment preferences to those caring for you, helping to insure that your wishes are respected even when you can’t make decisions yourself. It will advise your physician and family regarding the kinds of situations you would want or not want to have life-sustaining treatment in the event you are unable to make your own healthcare decisions. This will guide your physician and family when they have to make healthcare decisions for you in situations not specifically covered by your advance directive. A clearly written living will help prevent disagreements among those close to you. Moreover, a living will can reduce some of the burdens of decision making which are often experienced by family members, friends and health care providers. Privacy laws prohibit your doctors and other health care providers from communicating with your loved ones about your health care matters or otherwise sharing your private medical information during a time of incapacity. 

Power of Attorney

If you become incapacitated, you won’t be able to manage your own financial affairs.  Many are under the mistaken impression that their spouse or adult children can automatically take over for them in case they become incapacitated.  Durable Powers of Attorney are used to ensure that your chosen agents will have the ability to make financial decisions for you in the event of your incapacity. These include the power to access your accounts, pay your bills and manage your financial affairs, file your tax returns and otherwise deal with your personal matters at a time when you are unable to do so.

Assistance with the Probate process

The Dasaro Law Firm, P.C. understands the stress and uncertainty you may feel if you need to administer or execute your loved one’s estate after their death. We can offer you guidance and support with entering the will into probate, and the following procedures. We will walk with you through the entire process, reducing your apprehension and helping you when you do not know what to do next.