By: Attorney Gina C. Ziegelbauer © 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted many to think about what-if scenarios and realize they can’t put off end-of-life planning.

An estate plan generally includes documents (i.e. will or trust) which direct where your assets will go after you die, and appoint a personal representative (also called an executor) or a trustee to administer your estate after you die. If you have minor children, your will is important to appoint a guardian for your children if both parents die.

But it should also include a healthcare power of attorney and power of attorney for financial matters. These documents appoint an agent to help make decisions on your behalf while you are still living but become unable to make or communicate decisions for yourself.

A healthcare power of attorney appoints an agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you become unable to make or communicate healthcare decisions for yourself. Advanced planning also allows you to make decisions about your future medical care, like accepting or refusing treatment.

A power of attorney for financial matters appoints an agent to assist you in decision making related to your finances and property.

Having power of attorney documents in place can avoid an often costly and stressful court proceeding to appoint a decision-maker for you in the event you need a decision-maker.

Now is a good time to start thinking about who you would want to make decisions for you if you become unable to, and how you want your property and affairs to be handled after you die. Even during the safer-at-home orders, you can ensure your estate planning is accomplished. From an initial telephone meeting or videoconference with an SB Law estate-planning attorney, through curbside signing options so that you know your documents are properly executed, we’re still here to help you come up with a plan that works for you. Contact us directly at business@steimlebirschbach.com.

The post What You Need To Know About Estate Planning During COVID-19 appeared first on Steimle Birschbach, LLC.