Elder Law Firm in Doylestown, PA
If you have not yet made a plan for your end-of-life, you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to start today. While you may not like to think about it, an accident or illness could change your life in an instant, and if you are not prepared, your loved ones could end up struggling with complex legal issues and medical decisions. By speaking to an elder law attorney, you can find out more about all the considerations you can make now, while you are healthy and able to do so, that will make life easier for your loved ones if you pass away or become incapacitated.
At our office in Doylestown, PA, you can speak with an elder law attorney from Yorkway Law Group about a range of elder law topics. Call us today if you need an estate planning attorney, an asset protection attorney, or you want to designate someone to hold your power of attorney. We can advise you on these and other topics related to elder law, and we also have multiple locations to serve you better. Get in touch with our team for help with estate planning in Abington, PA in Doylestown, PA, or anywhere else nearby.
Why is Estate Planning Necessary?
There are many components to estate planning, including wills, trusts, probate, estate administration, asset protection, and more. Each component of your estate plan has a specific purpose, and an estate planning attorney can educate you about how each one works. In general terms, estate planning allows you to make your wishes clear now, while you are able so that there won’t be any questions or confusion if you pass away or become incapacitated.
For example, if you pass away without a will, the courts will decide who takes possession of your assets. They may also decide who will care for your children if that situation arises. An elder law lawyer can help you write your will so there will be no questions about these topics if the worst should happen to you. Estate administration is another area where the advice of an elder law attorney can be invaluable. If you are appointed as the administrator of someone else’s estate, you will have many legal responsibilities. A Doylestown, PA area elder law lawyer can tell you more about those responsibilities and give you advice about how to move forward.
Why Do I Need a Power of Attorney?
When a person becomes incapacitated, whether mentally or physically, they may lose the ability to make sound decisions on their own. In these cases, another person can be legally empowered to make decisions on behalf of the incapacitated person. By designating someone to hold your power of attorney, known commonly as your agent or attorney-in-fact, you can ensure that the person making decisions for you is someone you trust; otherwise, the courts will appoint someone.
There are four types of powers of attorney you may want to consider discussing with a lawyer in Doylestown, PA:
- General Power of Attorney
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Limited Power of Attorney
- Springing Power of Attorney
A power of attorney can come into play in various situations. One example would be in a case where you have been injured and are unconscious. Medical personnel needs to act fast, but they can’t ask you for consent to perform certain medical procedures. When that happens, your agent will be empowered to make those decisions on your behalf. In other cases, you may be declared mentally incompetent to manage your affairs. When that happens, a guardian will need to be appointed to make important financial and medical decisions for you. If you do not have an agent or attorney-in-fact, the courts will appoint this person, and it may not always be someone who has your best interests in mind. You can prevent that from happening by speaking to a lawyer in Doylestown, PA today.