Financial Power of Attorney Archives

How to Choose a Guardian for Yourself

Every day we make hundreds of decisions from what to eat for breakfast to where we go on vacation. With each passing day, there are more choices to be made. But, what will happen if you can’t make decisions for yourself? Before that time comes, there is one important decision you need to make. Who do you want to serve as your guardian? For those of you who have had your estate planning recently done or reviewed, you probably discussed and executed a Financial Power of Attorney. For those of you on the fence about having your estate planning completed, [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-14T15:41:31+00:00April 30th, 2019|Categories: Estate Planning, Guardianship, POA|Tags: Adults, Financial Power of Attorney, Guardian, Tips|0 Comments

How to Pick a Trustee, Executor, and Agent Under a Power of Attorney

While the term fiduciary is a legal term with a rich history, it very generally means someone who is legally obligated to act in another person’s best interests. Trustees, executors, and agents are all examples of fiduciaries. When you pick trustees, executors, and agents in your estate plan, you’re picking one or more people to make decisions in your and your beneficiaries’ best interests and in accordance with the instructions you leave. Luckily, understanding the basics of what each of these terms means and what to consider when making your choices can make your estate plan work far better. Trustee [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T20:11:55+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: Estate Planning, POA, Trusts|Tags: Estate Plan, Executor, Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare POA, POA, Tips, Trustee|0 Comments

Legal Considerations When Getting Your New College Student Ready to Go

If you are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college to pursue higher education, you may be wondering how their first semester of school will go. During this exciting new chapter in your family’s life, the last thing you may be thinking about is estate planning for your college-aged child. While your child may not have any assets (yet), once he or she turns 18, your child is considered an adult in the eyes of the law. Before your kids go away, have a frank conversation with them about how much information — including grades, finances, health [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T20:12:40+00:00August 23rd, 2018|Categories: College Planning, Estate Planning, POA|Tags: Financial Power of Attorney, Medical POA|0 Comments

Not Just Death and Taxes: 5 Essential Legal Documents You Need for Incapacity Planning

Comprehensive estate planning is more than your legacy after death, avoiding probate, and saving on taxes. Good estate planning includes a plan in place to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated during your life and can no longer make decisions for yourself. What happens without an incapacity plan? Without a comprehensive incapacity plan in place, your family will have to go to court to get a judge to appoint a guardian or conservator to take control of your assets and health care decisions. This guardian or conservator will make all personal and medical decisions on your behalf as part [...]

By Gratia P. Schoemakers, Esq.|2021-09-21T20:12:15+00:00February 5th, 2018|Categories: Estate Planning|Tags: Financial Power of Attorney, Healthcare POA, HIPAA, Incapacity, Living Will, Tips, Trust|0 Comments