Q: What is a Living Will? A legal document in which you state your wishes about certain kinds of medical treatments and life-prolonging procedures. The document takes effect if you can't communicate your own healthcare decisions. A living will may also be called a healthcare directive, advance directive or directive to physicians.
Q: How do I obtain a living will? Obtaining the appropriate Living Will form is easy, and you don't have to pay the $30 or more some lawyers charge. The forms themselves are contained in the state statute authorizing the creation of a Living Will. You can also obtain the form for use in your state from a doctor, hospital or medical clinic, or by writing to:
Partnership for Caring
(formerly Choice in Dying)
Box 97290
Washington, DC 20077-7205
(800) 989-9455
You can also visit the
Partnership for Caring Web site to download the advance directives free of charge. To obtain the advance directives by mail send $5 to the above address or call our toll free hotline to place a credit card order.
Q: How do I enact a living will? This document must be signed by you in the presence of two or more witnesses, none of whom should be a health care provider or a person who would stand to receive a share of your property in the event of your death, such as your spouse, a child, or someone you named as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
Q: What if I move? The exact form for creating a Living Will varies from state to state, and while it's likely that a Living Will executed in one state would be honored in another, most experts recommend that you execute a new Living Will if you move permanently from one state to another.
Q: What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Asset Management (DPA)? A Durable Power of Attorney (DPA) is a document which allows you (the principal) to give authority to another person (your agent or attorney-in-fact) to make financial/legal decisions and to make financial transactions on your behalf. A "Durable Power" differs from a "general" power of attorney because it remains effective even if the principal is mentally incompetent.
Q: Who can execute a Durable Power of Attorney? A person must be competent in order to execute a valid DPA. If there is a question regarding competency, it is a good idea to get a doctor's letter or declaration regarding the competency of the principal at the time the document is executed.
Q: Who can serve as attorney-in-fact? Any trusted person, such as a spouse, relative or friend, can serve as attorney-in-fact; it need not be an attorney. Also, there are several non-profit agencies which will fill this role. It is always a good idea to name at least one alternate attorney-in-fact to serve in the event that the first choice becomes disabled or dies. Your attorney-in-fact will have broad authority and it is critical that the person that you chose to serve in this capacity be completely trustworthy and sensitive to your wishes.
Q: What powers can I give to my attorney-in-fact? You can give your attorney-in-fact as limited or as broad powers as you desire, including the powers to buy property, to invest, to contract, to engage in tax planning, to make gifts, and, very importantly, the power to plan for government benefits, such as SSI and Medi-Cal.
Q: What are the disadvantages of a Durable Power of Attorney? The main disadvantage of a DPA is that it is subject to abuse because there is no ongoing court supervision of the attorney-in-fact. Unlike conservatorships, where an accounting is required to be submitted to the court, the attorney-in-fact's actions are not being supervised on an ongoing basis. If the attorney-in-fact abuses his or her authority and acts improperly, a court can step in and take action. However, in many cases the damage is already done and it is difficult to undo it. Thus, great care should be taken in selecting your attorney-in-fact.
Q: Do I need a lawyer to have a Durable Power of Attorney drafted? There are advantages in having a lawyer draft a DPA. First, an attorney-drafted DPA can be drafted to meet your individual needs. Although there are pre-printed forms available, they are worded broadly and do not give you as much flexibility. Second, since DPAs are subject to abuse, it is a good idea to meet with an attorney to make sure both the principal and attorney-in-fact understand the document and the attorney is assured of the principal's competency.
Do you want a free pass to financial trouble? Try being among the more than 50 percent of Americans who does not have a will! In a surprising twist,
Forbes recently revealed that 1 in 3 wealthy Americans doesn't have a will either. What's going on, people? Clark wants to guilt everyone into having a will. Did you know that if you have minor children and don't have a will, the state can take your kids away at the time of your death and decide who gets them? They could go to a stranger or a relative who can't get their life together. Likewise, the state can decide who gets your money if you die and don't have a will. It could go to a family member you don't like, while your spouse may only get 10 cents on the dollar.
If you made a will years ago, you may need to dust it off and update it. You can do this yourself if your financial situation isn't too complicated. You can also go to a site like
LegalZoom.com or try the highly respected WillMaker software. But you should go to a specialist if you have substantial money to protect. Retirement savings really need close attention. The beneficiary designation on your 401(k) or IRA accounts will trump whatever you have in your will. So check those designations carefully! One final note: California may be the exception to the rule that living trusts are not useful and should be avoided. That's because the Golden State has a very corrupt probate system. Some lawyers have even been able to arrange guaranteed revenue for themselves as a percentage out of someone's estate. If you own real estate in California and live elsewhere, you may want to hold it in a trust to avoid these corrupt probate courts.
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