No one likes to think about their own passing, but drafting the essential documents for an estate plan is one of the best things that you can do for yourself and your loved ones. An estate plan brings peace of mind that your family will be taken care of after you are gone and that your final wishes regarding your estate as well as your medical care will be heard. At Select Law Partners, PLLC , our team of highly skilled legal professionals is here to answer all your questions and assist in drafting all the essential documents for your estate plan. To learn more, call or contact our office today to schedule a consultation.
Last Will and Testament
One of the most important documents in any Virginia or North Carolina estate plan is a last will and testament. This document dictates your wishes for the distribution of your estate to heirs and beneficiaries after your passing. Oftentimes, this includes the creation of a trust, the appointment of an executor, and instructions on how to handle your digital presence. You want an experienced attorney to draft your last will and testament to ensure that it is written properly and avoids any issue that someone may bring up in probate court to contest its contents.
Power of Attorney
Another important document in an estate plan is a power of attorney form. The power of attorney appoints a trusted person to make all legal and financial decisions on your account if you are unable to communicate those choices yourself due to illness, disability, incapacitation, or distance. Common examples of decisions that a power of attorney can make on your behalf include buying and selling assets, investing your funds, determining your residence/living situation, and paying your monthly bills. You should only appoint someone that you trust completely as your power of attorney in an estate plan.
Living Will
A living will is also an essential document for an estate plan in Virginia, which dictates your wishes for medical treatment if you cannot express those decisions to healthcare personnel due to being in a persistent vegetative state or like incurable or irreversible condition. It keeps the decision in your hands as to when and under what conditions you want life support to be removed.
Healthcare Proxy
A healthcare proxy is the last essential document for an estate plan that identifies a trusted party to make medical decisions on your behalf if you cannot. This should be a person who has been informed and understands your wishes for medical care, including all types of treatment, medications, procedures, and palliative care. If you also have a living will, your healthcare proxy is bound by the decisions in that document and will ensure that medical professionals adhere to your medical choices.
Call or Contact Our Office Now
Would you like to learn more about creating an estate plan with an experienced attorney? If so, call the office or contact us at Select Law Partners to schedule a consultation today.
Sara Josey
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