Estate Planning, which includes documents such as Power of Attorney, Living Will and Last Will and Testament, is a very important and necessary aspect of life. These documents can help prepare families should there be a sudden tragedy. When Estate Planning is mentioned many people jump to the conclusion that it is for the elderly. Unfortunately, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Accidents are the leading cause of death of young adults. Picture this, your child, who is over the age of 18 and unmarried, gets admitted to the hospital due to a sudden illness. You, being the parent, go to the hospital trying to get information on your child only to be told no. HIPPA laws do a great job protecting patient confidentially; it does not discriminate because you are the parent. Without documents like the Power of Attorney and Living Will parents do not have the authority to make health care decisions or manage money for children once they reach the age of 18. By discussing these documents with your children early on, you could help avoid a potentially disastrous situation.

If you need help preparing any of these documents, please contact our office and we would be happy to help!