Tattoos have long been a method of expressing important thoughts and ideas to the world around us. Some tattoos are incredibly intricate portraits of the world, as seen through the eyes of the bearer; other tattoos are simple reproductions of symbols, or a point of view. Chances are, if you can think of it, someone has it tattooed somewhere on his or her body. In the case of an elderly British woman, she chose to have the acronym D.N.R. tattooed upon her chest, which stands for “do not … [Read more...] about The DNR Tattoo: Should You Ink Up?
Incapacity Planning
The ICE Card: What It Is, and How to Make It
While you know that emergencies happen, you probably don’t think they will ever happen to you. In that respect, you are exactly like everyone else. Unfortunately, there may come a time in your life when you are involved in an emergency and your lack of preparedness could come back to hurt you. Because of this possibility, it’s important that you create an ICE card as soon as possible. What is an ICE card? An ICE card stands for “in case of emergency.” The card contains important information … [Read more...] about The ICE Card: What It Is, and How to Make It
A Few Common Questions About Life Care Planning
Question 1: What is Life Care Planning? A life care plan addresses the needs of elderly people who develop disabilities, medical conditions, or anything else that can impact their quality of life. A life care plan is individually tailored to meet the needs of an elderly person and is designed to make their lives as happy and full as possible under the circumstances. Question 2: What is the difference between estate planning and life care planning? An estate plan mostly involves legal choices … [Read more...] about A Few Common Questions About Life Care Planning
Powers of Attorney in New York – 3 Key Variables
Variable 1: What types of powers does the power of attorney convey? Powers of attorney typically allow someone else to make one of two types of decisions: either financial or health-care related. Financial powers of attorney are used to give someone else the ability to manage your bank accounts, bills, as well as your ability to enter into new agreements. Healthcare powers of attorney, on the other hand, allow another person or organization to make health care decisions, such as what kind of … [Read more...] about Powers of Attorney in New York – 3 Key Variables
Estate Planning Myths: Who can Have Power of Attorney
Myth 1: Only my lawyer can be a power of attorney Much of the confusion surrounding powers of attorney and what they do comes from the name. Powers of attorney are just a kind of document, one through which you can choose someone else to make legally enforceable decisions on your behalf. The person you choose becomes known as your “attorney-in-fact.” However, that is merely a title, and it conveys no requirement that the person you choose must be a lawyer. You can choose anyone you like as long … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Myths: Who can Have Power of Attorney
Why You Need to Consider Your Estate Plan When You Become Pregnant
As a good rule of thumb, you should review your estate plan any time you experience a significant life event, such as a divorce, marriage, or death of a child or family member. You should also include pregnancy in this list, as there are specific estate planning concerns you will want to address once you learn you are pregnant. Let's take a look at some of the most important issues. Medical Directives When you become pregnant you may want to change the terms of your living will or other … [Read more...] about Why You Need to Consider Your Estate Plan When You Become Pregnant
Asking and Answering the Tough Estate Planning Questions
Why do so many people understand the need for creating an estate plan, yet so few of them ever carry it out? The answer isn't that people refuse to do it because they are lazy, uneducated, or uninformed, but rather because estate planning is itself a difficult proposition to face. The questions you have to ask yourself during the estate planning process can be incredibly uncomfortable and even depressing. Introspection and coming to grips with your own mortality can be a daunting challenge, but … [Read more...] about Asking and Answering the Tough Estate Planning Questions
Add Estate Planning to Your Vacation Planning
The next time you're taking the time to plan your next vacation, think about how much time you've spent making an estate plan. If you're like most people, your vacation planning is probably much lengthier than your estate planning efforts. Even if you haven't created a complete estate plan, you could take some preparatory steps to ensure that you'll be well prepared if an emergency should happen during your vacation. Here are a few questions you can ask yourself that will help you get … [Read more...] about Add Estate Planning to Your Vacation Planning
Selecting the Right Guardian
Estate planning often serves to alleviate some of our most rarely spoken about fears. If you are a parent with a young child, you have probably worried about what would happen to your child if you should die. Creating an estate plan and naming a guardian lets you sleep knowing that the right person will be there to take over caring for your child. Here are several tips you can use when making your selection. Consider the Relationships A good guardian is one who can provide a stable household, … [Read more...] about Selecting the Right Guardian
Moving? Your Estate Plan May Need An Update
A good estate plan is one that will last you a long time, provided you don't just let it sit in a drawer somewhere gathering dust. There are certain events in life that should prompt you to at least review your estate plan so you can be assured it will be ready when you need it. Moving is just such an event. While you probably won't need to make any changes if you move to a new home within the same state, crossing state lines is potentially problematic for any estate plan, and you will want to … [Read more...] about Moving? Your Estate Plan May Need An Update
