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Estate planning is an essential part of life, and if you don’t have your estate plan in order, it can be a huge burden on both yourself and those around you. If you do not have an estate plan in place, state laws will likely grant decision-making authority to your immediate relatives if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.  These same state laws will also determine who will receive your assets after your death.  However, you can take control of these choices through estate planning.

There are three (3) core estate planning documents that everyone should have created by an estate planning attorney: a Will, a Power of Attorney, and a Living Will. If any one of these documents is not properly executed or does not exist when the time comes to pass away, the consequences could be dire. We’ll go over each document briefly so you know what they do for you as well as how to get started with creating them.

Creating a Will

Your Will is the document that outlines how your assets are to be distributed after your passing and specifies who you wish to manage your estate after your death and to whom your assets will be distributed.

It is important that your estate plan includes not only what you want to happen with your assets, but also who should have custody or guardianship of any children. Any final thoughts or requests can also be included in a will, which should include naming an executor and giving instructions for how the funeral service should proceed, among other details.

Assigning a Power of Attorney

The Power of Attorney is the document that designates the person you trust to handle your affairs in the event you become incapacitated and specifically names someone to act on your behalf regarding financial, legal and healthcare matters if you are unable to make those decisions yourself.

If you decide to assign a power of attorney, it is important that the person you choose has knowledge of your assets as well as an understanding of estate planning law.

The Living Will

A Living Will, also known as an Advanced Medical Directive, provides instructions to your doctors or healthcare agents/providers concerning end-of-life care.  It indicates the type of medical treatments you desire (or do not desire) in the event you become terminally ill or permanently unconscious, such as whether you would want to be placed on life support or resuscitated, among other details.

Before getting started:

For our firm to get started with the process of estate planning, we require two decisions be made in advance. Who is going to be your Executor? And who will be your Beneficiary?

Who is going to be the Executor?

The Executor is the person in charge of carrying out your final wishes. This includes handling things like distribution of property, paying bills, and making sure estate taxes are paid. It is important that this person be someone you trust to best carry out your intentions after your death.

Who will be the Beneficiary?

Your Beneficiary is the person (or people) that you want to receive your property or your assets. This is the person you want to inherit your personal property any other gifts in your estate after your death.

Estate Planning is not always the most pleasant conversation to have, but creating these documents will help reduce the stress on your loved ones at the time of your death. These documents are necessary if you want to ensure that when you pass, someone else will handle your affairs appropriately without any disputes or confusion as to how you would have wanted them to be handled.

Furthermore, the process of Estate Planning may seem daunting now, specifically because many people don’t think about their own mortality until they’re old enough for retirement (generally age 65), but we urge you not to put off this task any longer because every day counts! 

If you would like our help in creating these legal documents, please contact our office today so that we can assist you through this process.

Six million automobile accidents occur each year in America. Fortunately, most of these accidents only involve damage to a vehicle. However, on an average 33% of those accidents result in personal injury.

If you are involved in a car accident, it is easy to panic and make irrational decisions. The purpose of this post and graphic is to help you know what to do in the event you find yourself involved in a car accident. 

What to do if you’ve been in a car accident:

1. First, never leave the scene of an accident. This is the definition of a “Hit and Run” which is a crime. Regardless of inconvenience, it is important to remain present while evidence is gathered and witnesses are interviewed
   
2. Keep yourself protected and safe. Being on a busy road presents safety challenges every time. Consider purchasing and using a roadside emergency kit including flares and road markings. Use flashlights in the dark. 
3. Contact Law Enforcement. Whether the car accident is major or minor, it is a good idea to call in law enforcement for help. Law enforcement officers will gather all the initial information which they need to proceed with their investigation.The automobiles involved in the accident should remain at the same place, unless they are in a traffic area. 
4. Cooperate with Law Enforcement Officials to gather all of the necessary information for their investigation. Tell them what you know about an accident and don’t hesitate to tell them that you don’t know certain things. 
5. Make sure that you take pictures of the vehicles in case of visible damage. You should also take photographs of visible injuries. Pictures taken at the scene of the accident will help you in further investigation. 
6. You should exchange basic information such as name, address and telephone number of all persons involved in the accident (drivers and passengers) as well as licence & insurance information should be documented. 
7. Consider seeking medical attention, even if there are no outward signs of injury. Often, adrenaline masks injuries at the moment of the accident and underlying muscle injuries may not become apparent until the next day. 
8. Document as much as possible, because evidence may disappear quickly. Keep all your accident-related documents and information in one place. 
9. Contact a Personal injury attorney as soon as possible to protect your rights. The personal injury attorney can help with compensation for any medical expenses that may arise. 

Your attorney can advise you on major issues like compensation and medication, and they make sure you are getting the best medical treatment and full compensation. If you have been in an automobile accident and would like to speak with an attorney, please contact us as soon as possible so we can help you with your case.