Keep Your Living Will In A Safe Place

Your living will is part of the all-important estate planning package, which you have likely done with a reputable company like Family First Estate and Corporate Services. However, perhaps one of the most important components of this document is not necessarily what is on it, but rather where it is kept. Your Phoenix, AZ living will should be kept in a safe place, where it can be accessed by your loved ones in the event of an emergency. Additionally, it should be on file with your local hospital, your doctor’s office and the company with which you worked should have a copy as well.

This document is only effective if it is properly accessed, so if you want to be assured that your wishes are followed, then you might also consider giving a copy of your Phoenix, AZ living will to a family member, preferably the one that you’ve designated to make decisions on your behalf should you find that you are not able to do so if you fall ill or an emergency occurs. This is one of the most important tenets of any kind of estate planning and should be taken into advisement anytime to draft a new document in this regard.

The Importance of An Arizona Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney

Many people would prefer not to have to think about medical situations that may render than unable to make health-related decisions without assistance, intervention of the use of an Arizona living will. However, while it is hopefully more of a “just-in-case” planning tool, it is important because you never know what kind of twists and turns life will throw your way. There are a number of advantages to have as much reinforcement as possible should this kind of situation arise, to ensure that your wishes are followed and respected.

To start, it is important to distinguish a difference between these documents. An Arizona living will is perhaps among the most common of advance directives and lays out in explicit detail the decisions you do – and do not – want made your behalf should a healthcare emergency arise. Not just for older adults, but prudent for people of all ages, this legal document spells out in as specific detail as you desire what you want done with your person in the event of a medical emergency. Many hospitals keep a copy of the document on file for patients, so it can be easily consulted in the event of an emergency that has rendered you incapable of making decisions for yourself.

Another advanced directive that is sometimes used is a healthcare power of attorney. This designates someone as your health care agent, so that person can make medical decisions on your behalf. That is all this document address; an Arizona living will also allows you to designate someone as your health care agent to make decisions when you are unable to do so. You might also have the combination of both documents, as neither an Arizona living will nor a healthcare power of attorney can foresee every incident that may come up when it comes to health-related issues.

When you name a health care advocate in your Arizona living will or power of attorney, choose wisely. Make sure that you opt for someone that will have your best interests at heart to ensure decisions are made in the vein that you would make them for yourself, if you were able. This is one of the most important decisions you will ever make, and the person of your choosing has to be responsible and reliable in terms of following what you stipulate on your advance directive documents.

Helping Aging Parents with their Finances in Arizona

Helping your aging parents get their finances in order might seem like a daunting task, but it is important for a number of reasons. Your older parents may no longer have the ability to clearly calculate their finances properly or may not have the desire to do so. Maybe they are both still sharp, but not up on some of the latest trends in financial planning and Arizona estate planning to ensure that they are getting the best value for their investments.

Consider a few tips to help your aging parents keep their finances in order:

Be respectful of their process: You can’t just swoop in and take over, without respect for the fact that they’ve been doing it on their own for years. You will get much further by offering your assistance and helping as much as they will allow you to. Be sensitive to the fact that aging can be a scary process and when you start trying too aggressively to take over, you may inadvertently scare your parents into not wanting your participation on any level, from their Arizona estate planning to simple financial planning.
Help your parents get organized: Organize important papers into a filing cabinet and make sure you and your parents know where everything is; the more organized their financial paperwork is, the more likely it is that they can easily access documents anything they need to.
Assist with Arizona estate planning: Estate planning is an important part of any financial portfolio. Help them in making tough decisions about their estate and make sure they are comfortable with the planning process and any decisions they make about their financial future, even beyond life.
Pay attention to red flags that may signal financial mismanagement or fraud: Comb through all of their documents with a fine-tooth comb and make sure no one has taken advantage of your parents in any way. Often, unscrupulous companies and individuals can get aging individuals to entrust them with account numbers and automatic payments, which can result in fraud for many older individuals.

The more you can help get your aging parents’ financial affairs in order, the more like it is that they will have a nest egg on which they can live for years to come. Moreover, you will provide them with peace of mind knowing that their finances are organized and planned for their best interests.

Is an Arizona Living Will Valid in all States?

An AZ living will is a document that stipulates your wishes should something happen to you medically that renders you incapable of making your own decisions. It allows you to maintain control over what happens to your level of care and the direction in which you take, even if you can’t verbally communicate this yourself. It is also known as an advanced directive and is different from other documents like it, such as a living trust or a traditional will.

An AZ living will is specific to your medical care, which is part of why it is an important part of long-term care planning. It is a document that you should have on file with your local medical facility and something you should talk over with your doctor and family members long before it needs to be pulled out and utilized. The requirements for this document vary by station, so it always helps to work with a legal professional when preparing it. They can tell you what steps you need to take to make it official, where you need to file it and answer questions specific to the validity of the document.

However, it should be noted that an AZ living will is valid in other states, provided it was properly prepared originally.

In most instances, when filing a living will, you want to provide documentation from your doctor if you are suffering from an illness that will render you incapable of making your own decisions. Additionally, the person that you appoint to make your healthcare decisions on your behalf should be informed ahead of time; discuss with that person your wishes and make it clear that you trust them to make those decisions not outlined in your AZ living will. This may also be covered in a healthcare power of attorney document, if you want to cover all of your bases to ensure that the person you appoint is hindered by the emotions of other family members and friends dealing with your illness.

When you are planning out your AZ living will, be sure to talk your final decisions over with family and friends, so that everyone is on the same page. Sometimes, during the grieving process, emotions run high and you want to ensure that your health care advocate as well as your loved ones understand the decisions you’ve made in your living will and don’t try to hinder the medical process should the document need to be utilized in your care.

Encourage Parents To Create Living Wills

When it comes to long-term care planning, particularly if you have elderly parents or are an older person yourself, there are a number of considerations to be had. Your first thought might be to do a traditional will, which is great to have on file should something happen to you. But a living will is equally important for a variety of reasons. Whether you live in Arizona and have an Arizona living will or live elsewhere and haven’t yet thought about this document, the time is now to start planning since you never know what will happen to you.

A living will is important because it provides a blueprint for how you want decisions to be made on your behalf should you no longer be able to make them for yourself. Additionally, an Arizona living will gives those that will help care for you an idea of what you expect in terms of care and how you would like for that care to be administered for the rest of your life, following a health incident.

In other words, an Arizona living will provides specific directives for how you want your medical care handled and by who, and what long-term care plans you have for yourself should you have to make some choices. If you have older parents, this document can be an invaluable resource that allows you to intermingle their plans with yours. In other words, if your parents name you as their health care advocate in their living will, then you have time to plan for that role. Talk to them about how they want their medical decisions handled and what their wishes would be should they become completely incapacitated.

Talk about things like nursing homes, living with you and going into an assisted living facility and once they come to a decision about how they want things handled, encourage your parents to include this information in their living will document. This saves you the heartache of trying to decide for them down the road, particularly if you are not ready to take on the role of a caregiver. Talk about the financial issues regarding long term care and again, ask your elderly parents to include their wishes in this regard in their living will document. This ensures that you don’t have to guess what they might have wanted and you know that every move you make is what they would have wanted, no matter what the situation.

How Much Does A Special Needs Trust Arizona Cost?

If you’ve been searching for a reputable expert in Special Needs Trust Arizona, but seem to be a bit confused as to pricing, we understand. In fact, many experts in Special Needs Trusts don’t post their prices and seem to be a bit closeted when it comes to discussing costs. I’m not exactly sure why that is, but I’m guessing it’s not good. I believe in transparency, especially when it comes to your family and your future, which is why all of our costs are posted, including Special Needs Trust Arizona costs.

How Much Does a Special Needs Trust Cost?

At Family Trust Estate and Corporate Services, a Special Needs Trust Arizona Package will cost $1495. If your child is receiving Social Security and/or Medicaid benefits, the cost of a Special Needs Trust far outweighs the risks involved with not having one.

Why Are Special Needs Trusts Arizona So Costly?

In reality, creating a Special Needs Trust with us is much more affordable then many of our competitors, simply because I believe in making Special Needs Trusts available to everyone who needs one. Families with children who have disabilities are usually strapped for cash as it is, and having an extra $5000 to $6,000 just sitting around is highly unlikely. According to the Muscular Distrophy Association, most Special Needs Trusts will cost you between $1,500 to $6,000, depending on the company setting up the trust. Our price of $1495 is actually below market value, which is done purposefully to allow all families the opportunity to have a Special Needs Trust set up.

Costs include 25 years of experience in Special Needs Trust Arizona and California, as well as a supreme knowledge of how the system works, all state laws on the subject, in-home visits, and custom created documents. Another aspect of End of Life Care and Trust forms is that they should never be templates or cookie-cutter forms. There are many, many rules, regulations and Arizona state laws that are constantly changing, and it’s up to me to keep track of those changes. Filling out the blanks on a Special Needs Trust template will put you and child at risk for losing many government benefits.

Why Can’t I Just Leave My Child an Inheritance?

You can, but it absolutely must be protected with a Special Needs Trust Arizona. If you leave any inheritance to the child living with a disability and living off of Social Security and Medicaid, you have put your very own child at risk for losing all government benefits. According to Arizona state law, these benefits are available to your child based on the fact that they do not have supplemental income. Should you leave an inheritance to supplement the child’s income, it will nearly instantly discontinue their government benefits.

Learn more about Special Needs Trusts AZ here.

Do I Need a Power of Attorney in Arizona?

It’s a question we get quite often from both married couples and unmarried couples, and it’s a great question to be asking. By asking whether or not you need a power of attorney in Arizona means you’re thinking ahead, you’re planning for the unknown, and you care enough about your family and friends to legally and emotionally clear up some confusion that could possibly occur in the event of an emergency.

Everyone needs a power of attorney, whether you are married or single. While many people consider power of attorney paperwork when they’re about to head into surgery, or perhaps have been diagnosed with an illness, or maybe are traveling overseas with the military. However, these are honestly the worst times to work up power of attorney documents in Arizona. When you’re emotionally stressed from whatever endeavor you’re embarking upon, you are not in the right mindset to make these kinds of decisions.

Power of attorney paperwork should be drawn up well before any of these issues become reality. In my 25 years of experience with AZ special needs trusts, living wills and more, I’ve found that the worst time to take care of these emotional legalities is when you’re in the thick of it. The best time is well before you find yourself in these situations.

I Need One Even if I’m Married?

Yes, everyone needs a power of attorney, even if you’re married. While your husband or wife does have certain legal entitlements, he or she does not have full access to those items which you have purchased together, such as your home, cards, etc. For example, imagine a scenario where you have been in a traffic car accident. Your medical bills are piling up, and your wife needs to sell the home to get out of the mounting debt. You are in a coma, and cannot make decisions or sign paperwork, and your house, bills, and future is in limbo because you do not have the right power of attorney paperwork.

What Does a Power of Attorney Do?

Basically, a power of attorney in Arizona will authorize someone of your choosing, whether it’s your husband, wife, partner, sister, brother, etc, to make financial and/or medical decisions on your behalf while you are still alive.

What Kind of Power of Attorney do I Need?

Power of attorney regulates all financial issues, while an Arizona living will, also known as a health care directorive, will regulate all medical decisions. In my experience, it is best to have an Arizona living trust, living will, and power of attorney paperwork drawn up together.

What is the Difference Between an Arizona Living Will, Will, and Trust?

When it comes to determining your final wishes for your assets upon your passing, it is not enough to simply communicate with those you love and hope it all works out for the best. Death brings out a wide array of emotions in people and your relatives and loved ones will be grieving, which can cause confusion, disbelief, anger, sadness and despondency; not the best mental state for making decisions about your estate. Whether you’re living in Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale or Tempe, having an Arizona living will, Arizona will, or an Arizona living trust is crucial.

Many people avoid these scenarios by creating a written document of their wishes; they may also create an account into which to funnel assets for distribution upon their passing. This document may take the form of an Arizona will, Arizona living will or an Arizona trust. There are distinct differences between these documents and accounts, and choosing the right one is a matter of personal preference. For example, someone living in Arizona may want to create an Arizona living trust, while an individual living in another state may opt instead to draft a will.

An Arizona will is a legal document that is drafted with the assistance of an attorney stating your final wishes. It may address children, property and other assets and essentially provides a road map for what to do in the event of your passing. It is a legally binding document that must be filed with the local clerk of courts, after which it becomes a matter of public record. Upon your passing, the estate and assets mentioned in your will have to go through a legal process called probate before assets, property and such can be distributed. Different laws may vary according to region, so for example, if you opt for a will in Arizona over an Arizona living trust, you need to do a little research beforehand.

An Arizona living will is specific to medical and health-related decisions and may also be referred to as an advanced directive. This document essentially gives direction with regard to your medical care should you find that you can no longer make these decisions for yourself. A trust, meanwhile, is a special account set up to manage your assets should you either become incapacitated or you pass away. This is a legal account and does not have to be filed with any local authority (which means it is not a matter of public record). For example, an Arizona living trust may work for an Arizona citizen that wants to provide direction for their loved ones on how to proceed with assets after an untimely death.

The decision between these options is entirely personal, it is just important to understand the differences so that you make the right decision for your situation.

What Is Elder Law?

Elder law is a type of law that specializes in the legal needs of the older population. These laws are mainly geared towards protecting the interests of elderly citizens. This might encompass issues of retirement and financial planning; there are also laws in place to safeguard against caregivers, family members, friends and even strangers taking advantage of individuals simply because of their age.

Much of elder law is centered on the documentation of wills and other similar documents. It is also specific to certain types of insurance policies, estate planning and quality of life issues. For example, elderly individuals interested in planning out the latter years of their lives, right down to the hospital in which they want to receive care should they become completely incapacitated, would work with a professional – generally a lawyer – that specializes in elder law and knows the confines of the laws in a particular locale. So for example, in order to dictate end of life care as it relates to elder law in a specific city, a professional would be able to share information about the law, how it can and cannot be used in a specific instance and help a client draft a legal document dictating their wishes accordingly.

The process of finding a legal professional that specializes in elder law can be a tricky endeavor. It requires in-depth understanding of both the legal side of the process in terms of the laws that serve and protect the elderly population, as well as an understanding of many consumer aspects of the topic. This might mean learning about Medicaid/Medicare, other common insurances and navigating through the sometimes challenging aspects of dealing with a population that is often characterized as staunchly stubborn.

However, elder law is important to ensure that members of the older population do not become victims because of their age. These laws ensure that older people are able to plan and make decisions regarding their own type of care, even at the end of life stages. Moreover, documents within the elder law realm – think wills and living wills – give family members a blueprint for what their older loved one wanted for his legacy after loss of life has occurred. Elder law protects those desires and the documents into which they are written to ensure that every individual has some control over what will happen to the people and things left behind once they are gone.

Getting End of Life Paperwork in Order for 2012

Let’s face it: considering options for end of life care is no pleasant task. In fact, most people would rather not think about it at all. However, for those family and friends that love and support you, there may be no greater gift than getting your paperwork in order for your wishes should you suffer from a disease or condition that incapacitates you, or as you simply approach old age and begin to fail.

End of life care may be all encompassing; you might designate a health care surrogate to make decisions for you in the event that you don’t have the mental faculties to do so yourself. Alternatively, you might get your end of life paperwork in order if you are suffering from a condition you know is more likely to end your life sooner than later. Or, you might simply be entering 2012 with a mind on preparation, getting all of your personal affairs in order since you never quite know what hand life might deal you.

Whatever the reason, it is best to consult with an expert on end-of-life paperwork to ensure you’ve everything in order. From setting up a financial trust to drafting a will to creating a living will, there are several important documents that should be included in your end of life care package. This specific information gives your loved ones specific instructions on how you want things handled once you have passed on or should you reach a point where you can no longer make decisions for yourself.

It might seem morbid to do it when you are feeling perfectly healthy, but in reality, this is the best time to organize this information. You have your full mental faculties and are able to make sound decisions about what you want for the end of your life. You can put significant thought into how you want things to go instead of waiting until you are distracted by the presence of a medical condition that clouds your judgment. Use 2012 to get prepared and get your end of life care paperwork organized and complete for your peace of mind and that of your loved ones.