What kinds of documents are there, which ones will you need?
Estate Planning Services
These documents are included under the sliding scale flat fee: Will, Durable Power of Attorney, Medical Power of Attorney/HIPAA Authorization, Directive to Physicians, Declaration of Guardian for Self, and Declaration of Guardian for Minor Child (as needed).
Will
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- Written declaration of your wishes; who gets your property and who is in charge
Durable power of attorney
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- Financial power of attorney giving someone else the power to make your financial decisions on your behalf.
Medical power of attorney/HIPAA authorization
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- Designates your choice for who will make your medical decisions should you be unable to make them yourself. Grants access to your medical records for up to 2 years beyond your death.
Directive to physicians
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- Instructs your doctors and your family on whether you wish to use life-sustaining treatment (life support).
Declaration of guardian
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- Names your choice should you need a guardian, which is a court appointed role. A guardian usually replaces the power of attorney but could be the same person.
Declaration of guardian for minor child
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- Names your choice of who will be appointed as guardian should both parents die.
Optional Services
These additional documents are not part of a standard estate package and are prepared at additional cost.
Transfer on death deed
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- Real estate deed permitting a house to transfer without the need of probate. The owner may designate beneficiaries much like you do on a bank account or life insurance policy.
Appointment of agent to control disposition of remains
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- Used to appoint a person who will take financial responsibility for your funeral and method of burial. It is also where you may specify a casket or cremation.
Special needs trust for disabled child or adult (as part of a will)
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- A trust designed to add to the support of a person who is disabled or lacks capacity, especially a person who may receive government assistance.
Spousal support trust (as part of a will)
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- A trust designed to provide a spouse use of the income generated by your property during his/her life and at death, transfer ownership directly to secondary beneficiaries. This trust is popular with blended families where the couple wishes their own children to receive property but want to support their spouse for life.
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