We often tell clients that effective estate planning doesn’t just involve handling matters after your death, but, more importantly, involves making provisions for your care while you are living, but suffer a disabling event which prevents you from acting for yourself.

Every adult should have a Designation of Health Care Surrogate to designate someone (and probably some back-up persons) who would be able to make health care decisions for you if you become unable to do so for yourself.  We often encounter people who may have prepared one of these documents years ago, but only named one person (perhaps, their spouse, a child, or partner), but did not consider a “back-up person” in the event that both the patient and their named surrogate are involved in an accident together and both become incapacitated.

A Designation of Health Care Surrogate normally is prepared in conjunction with a Living Will.  These documents, together with a comprehensive Durable Power of Attorney are critical for taking care of a person who has suffered a debilitating accident or illness.

Let us help you with these critical decisions.  Our Estate Planning attorneys at Gibbons | Neuman are ready to help you and your family plan for the future.