• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • About Our Firm
    • Career Opportunities
    • Meet Our Team
    • News and Events
    • Seniors Rock Radio
  • Estate Planning
    • Elder Law & Medicaid Planning
    • Estate Planning Services
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Family Farm Succession Planning
    • Family-Owned Businesses & Farms
    • IRA Planning
      • Planning With An IRA
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
    • Legacy Planning Services
    • LGBTQ Estate Planning
    • Pet Planning
    • SECURE Act
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust Administration & Probate
    • Young Families
  • Elder Law
    • Coping With Alzheimer’s
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Elder Law Reports
    • Guardianship & Conservatorship
    • Hospice Care
    • Veteran’s Benefits
  • Resources
    • Definitions
    • FREE Estate Planning Worksheet
    • FREE Webinars
    • Estate Administration Legal Guide
    • Estate Planning Articles
      • Questions for Your Estate Planning Attorney Before Creating Your First Estate Plan
      • How to Create Your First Estate Plan in 2022
      • How to Choose a Guardian for Your Child
      • Address These Three Questions in Your First Estate Plan
    • Estate and Gift Tax Figures
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Adult Guardianship
      • Alzheimer’s Care
      • Custodial Accounts for Minors
      • Estate Planning
      • FAQs for Families Without an Estate Plan
      • Elder Law
      • IRA & Retirement Planning
      • Is Your Estate Plan Outdated?
      • Legacy Planning
      • LGBTQ Estate Planning
      • Medicare and Social Security
      • Probate
      • Probate Avoidance
      • Irrevocable Trusts
      • Trust Administration
      • Trusts
      • Veterans’ Benefits
      • Wills
    • Newsletters
    • Reports
      • Advanced Estate Planning
      • Basic Estate Planning
      • Estate Planning for Niches
      • Trust Administration
    • Top Estate Planning Techniques
  • Reviews
    • Our Reviews
    • Review Us
  • Medicaid Planning
    • Medicaid Planning
    • Emergency Medicaid & Nursing Home Planning
    • Medicaid Frequently Asked Questions
    • Medicaid Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Estate Planning Services in Rochester, New York and the Finger Lakes Area

Connect With Us Today

(585) 374-5210
Law Pay Button
Attend a Free Webinar
Home » Estate Planning » Estate Planning Is a Must for All Responsible Adults

Estate Planning Is a Must for All Responsible Adults

October 25, 2018Estate Planning

estate planningThere are typically three phases that you must pass through when you are on your way to preparing for the future. The first one is the simple recognition of the fact that it is important to work with an estate planning attorney to put a plan in place. Unfortunately, it takes many people far too long to get to this point.

Understandably, a lot of otherwise responsible adults put the matter of estate planning on the back burner because it is not something that folks are especially anxious to think about. And even those who are completely at peace with their own mortality may feel as though they have plenty of time before they must take the matter seriously. In any event, when you recognize the fact that procrastination is putting your family at risk and resolve to take action, you have taken the first step.

To be certain that you are totally prepared for all eventualities in the most efficient and effective manner, the next stage in the process would be to retain the services of an experienced estate planning attorney. There are many ways to pass along assets to your loved ones, and the best strategy is going to vary on a case-by-case basis. You will invariably find that you gain far more than you put out when you engage the services of an estate planning lawyer that has a thorough understanding of all the issues facing seniors.

And thirdly, once you have a plan in place, you must be cognizant of the fact that updates are going to be necessary. Sometimes changes within your own life will necessitate estate plan alterations, such as divorce and/or remarriage. At other times, things that are outside of your own control can affect your estate plan, such as new legislation that impacts the estate tax parameters or changes to the Social Security or Medicare systems.

Planning for the latter stages of your life is an important matter. If you have not yet taken that first step, now is the time to take action and get in touch with us to schedule a consultation. When you do, you will obviously address the financial part of the equation. At the same time, your estate planning attorney will also explain the importance of incapacity planning.

Living Will, HIPAA Release Form and Durable Powers of Attorney

Most people have heard of the power of attorney. It is a document that is used to empower someone to act on your behalf in a legally binding manner. One of the concerns that people must address when they are preparing for the eventualities of aging is the possibility of incapacity. If you were to become unable to make sound decisions for yourself, you would want to have decision-makers in place to represent you. This is where powers of attorney come become relevant in an elder law context.

However, standard powers of attorney do not remain in effect in the event of the incapacitation of the grantor. This is why durable powers of attorney are used; a durable power of attorney does remain in effect after the incapacitation of the grantor.

There are different types of decision making situations that can arise. For this reason, an incapacity plan will typically include two different durable powers of attorney. There will be a durable financial power of attorney, and this is self-explanatory. You would add a durable power of attorney for health care to empower someone to make medical decisions on your behalf.

To aid the agent that you choose to make health care choices, you should include a HIPAA release form. This will give doctors the ability to legally allow your representative to view your medical records.

You should also execute a living will when you are devising your incapacity plan. This type of will has nothing to do with monetary asset transfers. With a living will, you state your wishes with regard to the utilization of life-sustaining measures like artificial nutrition, hydration, and respiration.

Learn More About Estate Planning!

You reached this website because you are looking for estate planning information. Our estate planning attorneys are holding a number of informative workshops over the next few weeks, and you are invited to attend the session that fits into your schedule. They are free, but we do ask that you visit this page to register for the workshop that fits into your schedule.

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Clients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors.
Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney
Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all)
  • How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner - August 31, 2022
  • State Income Taxation of Social Security Benefits - August 24, 2022
  • Understanding Tax Apportionment Clauses - August 17, 2022

Other Articles You May Find Useful

How Estate Planning For A Family May Trap The Unwary Practitioner 150x150
How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner
State Income Taxation Of Social Security Benefits 150x150
State Income Taxation of Social Security Benefits
Understanding Tax Apportionment Clauses 150x150
Understanding Tax Apportionment Clauses
estate planning
Estate Planning in Five Easy Steps
How Do I Trust Thee…Part III 150x150
How Do I Trust Thee…Part III
How Do I Trust Thee…Part III 150x150
How Do I Trust Thee…Part I

Primary Sidebar

Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Blog Subscription

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube

TESTIMONIALS

News & Events

Seniors Rock Radio Show Recording 5-1-21

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U7UkQbEGy-xY7XFAXvX9Qz7pKSVDVV3D/view?usp=drive_web   Author Recent Posts Michael Robinson, Estate Planning AttorneyClients notice Michael Robinson’s unique approach to his estate planning practice the minute they walk through his office doors. Latest posts by Michael Robinson, Estate Planning Attorney (see all) How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner -... Read more →

Pittsford Office

1163 Pittsford-Victor Road, Suite 120 (Powder Mill Office Park)
Pittsford, NY 14534-3817
Phone: (585) 374-5210
Fax: (585) 485-0394

See Larger Map Get Directions

Map

mrobinson_sidbr_map

Footer

  • Advantages of Working With Our Firm
  • About The American Academy
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact Us

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Linkdin
  • Youtube
robinson law logo

The Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

Attorney Advertisement


© 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.