Estate Planning
Realize Your Vision
Much of our practice is in the world of business and finance. We help clients navigate important issues that lead to intentional and successful futures.
Estate planning is much like most business conversations. You need to describe the successful future for your legacy and interests. The Estate Plan is the strategy that helps you realize your vision.
The following is some basic information about Estate Planning. We invite you to read the insights we’ve provided here.
Feel welcome to do your own research to compare other ways of thinking about these matters. We want you to be an informed estate planner when the time comes to make choices that will affect your life legacy.
A comprehensive Estate Plan includes several types of documents. Depending on your needs, one or more of these estate planning products are appropriate for you.
Here is a description of the various forms used to give most clients a complete Estate Plan.
Durable Power of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney is an important document that permits another to act for you in a broad range of matters. This Durable Power of Attorney differs from the Health Care Power of Attorney in that the authority here applies to handling your financial, property, and business affairs. Under these circumstances, an attorney-in-fact may transfer money, open accounts, and conduct other transactions for your benefit in your name.
Last Will & Testament
A Last Will and Testament is a document that provides directions on how your property should be distributed after life. Generally, a will contains such information that is necessary to ensure your final wishes are understood and can be accomplished. Your will should reflect your specific intent. The will is the primary instrument that determines how personal and business assets will be distributed.
Living Will
In North Carolina, a Living Will is called a “Declaration of a Desire for a Natural Death.” A Living Will is a document that allows you to retain control over whether your life will be prolonged by certain medical procedures if you are diagnosed as being terminally and incurably ill or in a persistent vegetative state. Essentially, a physician will determine if you have a complete loss of awareness before following the directions of a Living Will.
Health Care Power of Attorney
A Health Care Power of Attorney is a document by which you may appoint another person to make important medical decisions for you. Your Health Care Attorney-In-Fact (Agent) may consent to or refuse medical care, including mental health treatment, on your behalf if a physician or eligible psychologist determines that you are unable to make or communicate these decisions yourself. The Health Care Agent can make decisions where the Living Will does not apply. This could be a scenario where you are unable to make the decision but expect to recover eventually.
We invite you to have a conversation with us about Estate Planning. To learn a bit more, feel welcome to download our Estate Planning Guide.
