Part of the process of creating a complete estate plan is making medical directives that protect you, should you become incapacitated and unable to make your own medical choices. Living wills, health care powers of attorney, and other directives are vital pieces of any good estate plan even if you are not currently suffering from any serious medical conditions. Yet one of the many … read more
Incapacity Planning
What is Incapacity?
Many pieces of an estate plan, including your powers of attorney, medical directives, as well as your revocable living trust, will address the question of what will happen should you become incapacitated. But what is incapacity? As someone who creates an estate plan you need to know what incapacity is. Though the definition differs between states, here are the broad strokes. What is … read more
3 Questions About Will and Living Will Registries
Question 1: What is a living will or a will registry? People who create last wills and testaments and living wills in Greensboro, North Carolina, have to make sure that these documents comply with all relevant state law. Some states, such as North Carolina, provide residents with the ability to file some of these important documents with a state office. You can file any advance health … read more
Whom Should You Choose as Your Health Care Agent? 3 Questions You Need to Ask
Question 1: Can you be decisive? When people create advanced medical directives and name a health care agent, they most typically choose their husband, wife, or another close family relative. But just because someone is closely related to you, that doesn’t mean the person is the best choice for your agent. Your agent needs to be able to make medical decisions in accordance with your … read more
Doctors Choose Advance Directives More Often Than Their Patients
Anyone who has thought about creating an estate plan in Greensboro, North Carolina has probably considered creating a living will or other type of advance medical directive. Living wills are very different than last wills and testaments, and address your medical wishes not your property choices. Yet only about 20% of the general population has taken the required steps to create medical … read more
Pregnant in Greensboro? You Need to Start Thinking About Estate Planning
With everything else that comes after learning that you’re pregnant, it’s easy for most women to forget about estate planning concerns. The fact is, most people don’t develop an estate plan at all, much less after they learned they are pregnant. Yet there are some decidedly important concerns you need to address if you’re pregnant, as well as if you’ve already given birth. Appoint the … read more
Think Twice Before Getting a DNR Tattoo
A little over a year ago an 80-year-old woman in England had the phrase “Do Not Resuscitate” tattooed on her chest. For those of you who do not know, a DNR order, or do not resuscitate order, is a medical directive that states your desire for not receiving CPR should your heart stop. While having your medical wishes tattooed on your body may seem like an appealing idea to you, there … read more
3 Common Questions About Long Term Care Insurance
If you are worried about the ever-rising costs of nursing homes or extended care facilities, long-term care insurance is one possibility you may want to consider. While most people will never have to go into a nursing home, the costs associated with even temporary stays can be significant. Here are three common questions many people have about long-term care insurance and how it … read more
Key Elder Care Documents Your Parents Need Now
For adult children with elderly parents, helping your parents prepare for the future can be as simple as helping them create the right legal documents. Many elderly parents are reluctant to create some these documents because they believe that once they do they will lose certain rights. It's important to always remember that your parents will always be able to choose what they do and do … read more
Retirement Tips for Same Sex Couples
While America's attitudes towards same-sex couples have changed significantly in recent years, there are still some potential retirement hurdles that many LGBT Americans need think about. On the federal level, the Defense of Marriage Act effectively prevents same-sex couples from benefiting from the same retirement benefits that heterosexual couples share. However, you can take steps now … read more
