The guardianship process is complex, expensive, and often humiliating to the older adult. Most times, guardianship is also avoidable. Plan ahead to avoid guardianship. Whenever possible, guardianship should be avoided. The most effective way to avoid guardianship is to plan ahead. Sine there is…
Category: Advance Directives
Complete Estate Planning: Advance Directives for People with Dementia
In November of last year, the Washington Post ran an opinion piece by an ER doctor titled “Doctors are torturing dementia patients at the end of their life”. Read the article here The doctor’s experience and perspective are not unusual. As Jane Brody of the New…
Complete Estate Planning: Advance Directives
No estate plan is complete without an advance directive. The Georgia Advance Directive for Healthcare replaces the old living will and power of attorney for healthcare. It was adopted by the Georgia legislature and put in place by the Department of Human Resources…
New Year's Resolution: Finally creating a will and powers of attorney!
Let’s make this the year you finally tackle some of those tasks that you’ve been putting off. At the top of your New Year’s resolution list should be your estate plan. Most adults put off estate planning for several reasons: 1) It seems overwhelming…
Make Estate Planning a Part of Your New Year’s Resolutions
It’s unbelievable, but 2019 is almost over. As we approach the new year, it’s time to start thinking about new year’s resolutions. This year it’s time to make estate planning a part of your new year’s resolutions. Like most people, you’ve probably been putting off…
Hiring a Professional to be Your POA
For most aging adults, family members act as the health care and financial agents. Most of us have a spouse, adult child, sibling or other family member who is able and willing to be our agent(s). More and more frequently, however, we are hearing…
How Often Should You Update Your Documents?
Your estate planning documents should be updated regularly. They are not meant for you to “set it and forget it.” We recommend that everyone follow the following rule of thumb for updating their advance directives: Whenever there is a new decade, death, diagnosis, divorce,…
Quiz: Are You Truly Prepared for Your Loved One’s Medical Crisis?
If you are caring for a disabled or aging loved one, you are likely anticipating a medical crisis to eventually happen: The dreaded call from a neighbor or hospital; a late night call from your loved one; coming home from work to find your…
How to Talk to Your Loved Ones about Their End-of-Life Wishes
Many of our clients have touched my life, changed how I practice, and informed my approach. There is one client in particular that I will never forget. He was 99 years old and came to our office for estate planning. He had just moved…
Your Advance Directive is Complete, Now It’s Time To Share It
Congratulations! You have completed your advance directive! Now what? It is important to now share your advance directive with some important people. You will want to make sure that each of the following has a copy of the advance directive: Each healthcare agent…