Life’s Events Documents and Estate Planning: What Do I Need?

While none of us can fully plan for unexpected life events, it is possible to make plans so that you maintain your ability to make decisions in certain circumstances as best as possible, and that you identify other people you trust to make decisions for you if you become unable to do so for yourself. In other words, an unexpected accident or medical event can leave any of us without the ability to voice certain decisions, or to take care of our own medical and financial issues. Although it can be difficult to think about the possibility of an unanticipated accident or medical event, everyone should work with an estate planning lawyer to ensure that crucial life event documents are in place — just in case they are necessary. And, more often than most people expect, these documents do become necessary.

What are common life’s events documents, and what do you need? Consider the following documents and information, and get in touch with an experienced Connecticut estate planning lawyer once you are ready to finalize these documents based on your needs and decisions.

Living Will 

A living will is one type of document known as an “advance directive.” It is an important document that is much different from a will, or a last will and testament. This document is also known as “health care instructions,” and it gives specific medical instructions in the event that you become incapacitated and cannot take part in any decisions concerning your own medical care.

The instructions in a living will only take effect if you have an incurable or terminal condition that will soon result in death without life support. In the living will, you can request that certain treatments be provided or withheld, such as CPR, artificial respiration, or artificial nutrition and hydration.

Health Care Representative

 Appointing a health care representative is the other type of “advance directive” in Connecticut, in addition to the living will, discussed above. When you appoint a health care representative, you name another person you trust to make medicare care decisions for you if you are incapacitated and cannot make decisions on your own. You will authorize a specific person in writing to be your health care representative, and they will only be able to act if you cannot make or communicate your own medical decisions. The appointed health care representative must make decisions that are based on your stated wishes, including those in a living will.

Powers of Attorney

 You can draft documents in which you give another person known as an “agent” a power of attorney to make certain decisions for you, or to act on your behalf in particular circumstances or with regard to particular issues. Most often, powers of attorney are drafted to allow another person to handle financial matters for you if you become unable to do so yourself, or if you need assistance doing so.

Contact Our Connecticut Estate Planning Attorneys 

If you have any questions about any of the documents we have discussed, or if you need assistance preparing your own documents just to be prepared in case of an unexpected life event, our firm is here to help you. Contact an experienced Canton estate planning attorney at the Law Office of Brian S. Karpe today to discuss your personal circumstances and to work with a lawyer to make plans for drafting and finalizing important estate planning materials.

Source:

portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/health-issues/yourrightstomakehealthcaredecisions2011version-pdf.pdf