Did you remember to review your Estate between Christmas and New Year’s?
2019 is in full swing. Now is a good time to check. Are your Estate Planning documents in place and current? It is important you avoid wasting your Estate. We suggest you work with a competent estate planning attorney or adviser to execute at least the following basic estate planning documents:
- Last Will and Testament
- Testamentary and Separate Trusts and Trustees
- Business Continuation Agreement/Contract, if you own a business – and you want that business to survive you
- Designation of a Health Care Surrogate
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Living Will
- HIPAA - listing individuals authorized to receive information on your medical care
The last four bear on your living wishes should you be medically incapacitated or unable to cope. They should be executed immediately, as many institutions, sadly, seem more concerned about their legal liability than the Hippocratic Oath. We also recommend these be executed by dependents aged 17 and older to assure their records can be accessed and their wishes enforced by their parents or guardians, etc.