Every adult should have a health care proxy and power of attorney — they save loved ones time, money and stress if a sudden illness or injury leaves you incapacitated.
Whenever I meet someone new, one of the first questions I’m asked is: “What do you do for a living?” After telling them I’m an estate planning attorney, the response I get 95% of the time, after a deep sigh, is: “I really need to start looking into that.”
Unfortunately, life gets in the way, and other things take priority.
But what people fail to realize is that your estate plan is more than just distributing your assets after you pass away.
In today’s world, a comprehensive estate plan includes documents that protect your interests and wishes while you are still alive.
Two documents specifically, the health care proxy and the durable power of attorney, are vital in any good estate plan.
Not only can these documents ensure your interests are protected, but they can save your loved ones time, money and unnecessary complications in the form of legal and medical bureaucracy in the event you become incapacitated.
Read full article on Kiplinger’s website: I’m an Estate Planning Attorney: These Are the Two Legal Documents Everyone Should Have
