Think about how helpless it would feel to be unable to make your own decisions, especially if you didn’t prepare for the worst-case scenario. In addition, individual loved ones need to fight over their future. Perhaps you must play tug-of-war with your possessions if you became disabled and had no legal redress. So then, how does estate planning help if you become incapacitated? Before moving forward, let’s understand what estate planning is.
What is Estate planning?
Estate planning will ensure that the person to whom an individual desires to leave their estate will follow their words. However, preparing a comprehensive estate plan can be pretty expensive after completion. Whether you employ an attorney or do it yourself, the total cost of your estate plan will vary.
A well-thought-out estate plan considers both the predictable and the unpredictable, such as the potential for becoming incapacitated. While senior citizens frequently have more significant concerns regarding incapacity planning, anyone can get sick or hurt anytime. Therefore, consult with a knowledgeable elder law or estate planning attorney, irrespective of your stage of life. It is the best approach to safeguard both assets and your well-being.
Who is an incapacitated person, as per estate planning?
“Incapacitated person” refers to any individual who becomes disabled due to an intellectual disability or autism. As a result, they cannot understand, communicate, or act upon responsible decisions for themselves or their property. These people are generally senior citizens, such as older adults or injured people due to an accident. They may be in a critical medical State where they cannot communicate, move, hear, talk, or understand much. Thus, they need someone else to look after their assets.
So, it’s time to understand how estate planning will help if you become incapacitated.
How does estate planning help if you become incapacitated?
Revocable Living Trust when become incapacitated-
This legal document involves three parties. The person who establishes the trust, the person who oversees the management of the assets transferred into the faith, and the person who will receive the benefits of the property transferred into the trust.
In a typical revocable living trust, the Trustmaker or Grantor will also be the Trustee and Beneficiary of their faith; however, if even one among the Trustmaker, Trustee, or Beneficiary becomes incapable of managing their affairs. Then, another person will be designated as the Successor Trustee and oversee the trust’s assets on the incapacitated person’s behalf.
Power of Attorney will help if you become incapacitated-
Power of attorney over finances: With this legal instrument, an agent can handle various financial tasks, including bill payment, investment management, tax filing, mortgage and sale of real estate, and other specified tasks in the agreement. There are two types of financial powers of attorney: springing and durable. A Springing Power of Attorney only becomes effective once the instrument’s maker is found to be mentally incompetent, unlike a Durable Power of Attorney, which takes effect immediately upon signing.
Choosing a healthcare provider will help with estate planning.
A healthcare directive, often known as a living will, and a HIPAA authorization are two essential court requirements that will be in place before you lose the ability to govern your medical treatment. If you want to specify your healthcare preferences in case you become incapacitated and cannot express them to your doctors directly, you can do so in a healthcare directive.
Additionally, it enables you to state what kind of life-sustaining medical care you want to accept or reject. A living will be as specific or broad as the maker would like. If one writes the directive in detail, your loved ones and the medical professionals treating you will be better aware of the type of medical care one choose.
You can also name a medical insurance representative or a medical attorney for health care in the document because one cannot omit the details from even the most comprehensive living wills. If you cannot make or convey your healthcare and medical decisions, your healthcare representative will function as your agent.
Conclusion
Early Estate planning is vital for everyone, especially for handling the worst situations like incapacity or even death, to keep their families and assets secure.
