Power of Attorney / Poder legal
Sometimes things happen in our lives that are in our control but we cannot immediately react to. Important decisions might need to be made for your estate but your location, mental state, death, or any other unfortunate circumstance prevents you from doing so. A Power of Attorney is a person who you give legal power to make decisions for you on your behalf. A power of attorney can handle your land for you while you are away, make executive decisions about your businesses or estate, or manage and maintain your property for you. You could also limit how much legal decision making power a person can have and limit their decision making range. If you would like to appoint someone trustworthy to manage your affairs while you are not able to, call our office to schedule a free, first-time consultation.
Health Care Directive
A Health Care Directive is a legal plan and guideline for how you would like to be treated if you become incapcitated. If you cannot make decision about your health because of your mental state, physical ailment, or physical condition, a Health Care Directive allows you to prepare for these situations. You can appoint someone to be a Power of Attorney for your health, and you could also specify what treatments you would like to take and which ones you would not want to take. If in the even that your incapacity is terminal, you could also appoint someone you personally would like to take care of you. If you would like to create a Health Care Directive, please call our office to schedule a free, first-time consultation.
Will
A will is a document that specifies how your assets will be distributed and how your children will be cared for if you die. You can specify who receives what assets of your estate and you could also appoint a legal guardian to care for your children upon your death. Upon your death, a will goes into probate. Probate is a legal court hearing in which the court oversees how your assets are distributed, how to disburse you unclaimed assets, and verifies that your children are given to the appropiate legal guardian. You could also specify an executor to enforce your will and assist the court with Probate. Wills are a great way to disburse small assets, like collectibles, furniture, and machinery. Wills are public documents and anyone can request to see them. Probate is also a public process as well. If you feel that a will is a good idea for you, please call our office to schedule a free, first-time consultation.
Living Trust
A Living Trust is very similar to a will. A Living Trust can determine who receives what assets and who would care for your children if you pass away. Unlike a will, a Living Trust can take effect when you die OR when you become incapacitated. A will only takes affect, if and only if, you pass away. With a Living Trust, you could create conditions for your beneficiaries in order to receive their inheritance, ban people from receiving anything from your estate, nominate someone that you trust to verify if you become incapacitated, and appoint trustees to manage your estates (A trustee, unlike a power of attorney, will pay, manage, maintain, repair, improve, and be legally and financially liable for your businesses, houses, investments, etc.). You could also create a plan that would take effect if you become incapacitated, like a Health Care Directive, or another plan if you pass away. You could also appoint Power of Attorneys. If you have a complex situation and feel a Living Trust is the appropiate document for you, please call our office to schedule a free, first-time consultation.