Sometimes the simplest little things suddenly become important things! Here are three simple suggestions or “tips” you might find helpful and that you might want to consider before they become urgently important!
- Create an estate plan while you are healthy. It is much less stressful if you don’t wait for a crisis to hit you. Furthermore, you may not be in the best position to communicate your wishes clearly. Failure to execute documents while you are competent leads to guardianship and court involvement. That being said, the first appointment after getting a diagnosis of a progressive disease should be your estate planning/elder law attorney. Waiting until cognitive issues worsen may open the door to conflict relating to capacity.
- Always have a good, updated financial power and health care power of attorney. This applies to anyone 18 years or older. Having them when you need them can avoid the cost, stress and burden of court involvement.
- Safeguard your original estate planning documents. Did you know that the original financial power of attorney is required with all real estate transactions and that some financial institutions require the original document as well? This is the reason why our office always prepares two of them, in the event one of them gets lost. Also, the original Will is required by the Court when someone passes away This is especially important when New Hampshire law is different than how you would want your assets to be distributed.