Estate planning encompasses many different aspects, but it is not just about who receives your assets after you pass away. You also need to think about who is able to make decisions on your behalf if you’re incapacitated.
There are several basic documents you may wish to discuss with your experienced estate planning lawyer in Pasadena. The first is a general durable power of attorney. This names someone else to manage your day-to-day financial and legal affairs. This person can be authorized to take specific actions such as paying expenses, receiving income, writing checks, and filing your income taxes.
You will also need to name someone to be put in charge of making health care decisions on your behalf. If you were to become critically injured or ill and cannot voice these concerns or requests for yourself, this puts family members and medical professionals in a difficult situation. If you have specific preferences about care you wish to receive or not receive, it is good to not only discuss this with your loved ones in advance, but to document this with the help of a Pasadena estate planning lawyer. This will greatly reduce the stress faced during an already challenging time and ensure that your wishes are respected, even if you are unable to speak up for yourself at the time.
Talking with our Pasadena estate planning attorney can help you identify various opportunities to protect your wishes and your possessions over the course of your life and after you pass away. With so many different estate planning tools available to you, it is helpful to identify an attorney who has helped others navigate this situation for many years.