05/05/08

What are some of the terms I need to understand when planning for my family?

A Will is a legal declaration of how a person wishes his or her possessions to be disposed of after death.  It is a legally executed document containing this declaration.

A Health Care Proxy, sometimes called a medical power of attorney, gives your spouse, or other designated agent, the legal authority to make healthcare decisions if you cannot do so yourself. Also, many clients choose to sign advance healthcare directives that express their medical treatment wishes in the event of a terminal illness. Often known as a "living will", this language provides your family with clear instructions about whether "heroic" or "futile" medical treatment is appropriate if your death is imminent. With a living will in place, your family will not face the uncertainty of making decisions about your medical care. An advance medical directive (Living Will) provides your agent with instructions on what type of care you would like. If you wish, you may include a medical directive in your health care proxy. It may include specific instructions concerning the initiation or termination of life sustaining treatment or a more broad statement granting general authority for all medical decisions that are important to you.

Durable powers of attorney are a critical piece of any estate plan. This document will enable your appointed agent to make financial decisions on your behalf should you ever become incapacitated. I can advise you on how to choose an agent and how best to draft the durable power of attorney to ensure that your assets are properly managed.

You may sign a HIPAA Information Release Authorization Form to authorize the disclosure of your protected health information. Each person you identify will have the same access to your information.  This form complies with Federal HIPAA regulations.

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