Take Care Of Yourself In Your Estate Plan With A Power Of Attorney

As you get older, you will likely reach a point where you need assistance taking care of yourself and making sound decisions. Now is the time to make important decisions about who you want helping you when that time comes. Documents like a durable power of attorney for finances, medical power of attorney and advanced health care directive will ensure that your wishes are respected, even when you can no longer voice them.

The estate planning and elder law attorneys at Pearman Law Firm, P.C., are dedicated to providing you dignity and respect as you age. Our lead attorney has over 30 years of legal experience helping clients in Wheat Ridge and the surrounding Denver metro area. We are ready to listen to your concerns and help you understand your options.

Creating Your Durable Financial Power Of Attorney

A durable financial power of attorney allows you to appoint someone you trust as your agent, called an attorney-in-fact, who can conduct your financial and business affairs when you cannot. You can choose from a number of powers to grant your agent, and it can only be used while you are still alive. We will walk you through the legal requirements, as well as your options, and help you choose the right person or people to act as your agent.

You can choose to have this document take effect upon your incapacity or anytime you need it as a matter of convenience. No matter the reason, you must have the mental capacity to sign the document. We advise you to do so now, while you are healthy, and before you actually need it.

Communicate Your Medical Care Wishes

In Colorado, you need two types of documents to ensure the medical care you want. A medical durable power of attorney allows you to appoint someone as your agent who can make medical decisions for you if you cannot do so and access your medical records to make an informed decision. In addition, you need a living will, also called a declaration as to medical or surgical treatment in Colorado. This document communicates your wishes for life-sustaining treatment to your medical providers when you:

• Are in a coma
• Are unable to communicate for seven days or more
• Have a terminal condition that has been certified by two doctors

You can also choose other types of treatment, like feeding tubes, living situations and do not resuscitate orders.

Without durable powers of attorney and a living will, your loved ones may have to go through a guardianship and conservatorship process with the probate court in order to provide you assistance. Planning ahead allows you to choose who will help you with your finances and medical care. Communicating those wishes now relieves them of this burden later.

Call Our Denver Metro Area Office Today

We are ready to guide you through the different documents that will help you plan for your own care in the future. Contact us for a initial phone conference by calling 720-259-9528, or by sending us a message today.