Several years ago, a friend of mine was on his way to go deer hunting with a friend over Thanksgiving weekend when they were involved in a head on collision. He ended up in the hospital for a month with a broken pelvis and multiple fractures in both legs. Fortunately, over time he recovered. His wife was a nurse, so they had a lot of the medical things covered. The point is, we just never know when today is “our day”.
I had a relative involved in a head on collision between two four wheelers. She was a single parent, 36 years old with two daughters, ages 17 and 9, at home. She did not have a will or a power of attorney. Her parents had to make the end-of-life decisions for their daughter. They had to hire an attorney to retain custody of their granddaughters. While having an estate package in place would not have prevented hiring an attorney, it sure would have made the transition for the family a lot easier.
Many of the decisions that must be made during the estate planning process do not have to do with the person’s death per se, but rather any number of circumstances and specific needs that might arise leading up to death. For instance, if someone sustains brain damage in an auto wreck and becomes unable to make health care decisions for themselves, they would want someone whom they trust and love to make those decisions on their behalf. This can be accomplished with an advance directive which is a form of a health care power of attorney
No one enjoys thinking about end-of-life matters or visualizing their own death; it is uncomfortable, unpleasant, and akin to betting against oneself. A prime example is signing up for life insurance as part of the plan to take care of those you leave behind. Depending on your situation, your company or family may need help to get through the loss of your income and financial support. A lot of people are not emotionally strong enough, or comfortable enough, to plan for their own end of life. This is where an attorney can help.
For more information on Decision Making During Estate Planning, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (918) 565-0070 today.
