There have been numerous requests for estate planning information. The following is a brief summary documents that might be helpful.



• Health Care Powers of Attorney:  This is a document where you, as a Principal, can direct a person to make health care choices for you when you cannot make or communicate your own health care decisions.  While often physicians will seek health decisions from a spouse or adult children, this document becomes critical when there is no one to make health choices for you or if there is conflict among family members over your care. Your peace of mind is gained by appointing the people you trust to guide your health care.
• Advanced Directives: Some people feel very strongly about end-of-life care and choices. For those people, putting those wishes in a legal document ensures that those wishes can be carried out effectively by a Health Care Agent. These decisions range from decisions to be intubated or on a ventilator to receiving artificial hydration and nutrition to burial or cremation decisions to organ donation or autopsy. You gain peace of mind by having these decisions in place; your loved ones have peace of mind knowing they will make the right choices for you.
• HIPAA Authorization: This authorization allows other people to receive information about your health status. There may be people that you want to have access to this information; conversely, there may be people that you do not want to have access to this information. This authorization makes it clear who can receive that information and who cannot.
• Durable Powers of Attorney: This is a legal document that allows you, as a Principal, to appoint a trusted person, as an Agent, to access your assets or make financial decisions or transactions on your behalf. This document is effective only during your lifetime, which is why it is so important. An Agent’s ability to act for the Principal can be limited to times of emergency such as when you are incapacitated. This document is critical for your Agent’s access to your bank accounts to pay your bills in a time when you cannot. This document is critical for your Agent’s ability to trigger a long-term care insurance policy if you need care. This document is critical for ensuring your taxes can be paid if you cannot pay them. Real estate transactions are almost impossible without this document. This document, when drafted carefully, can offer asset protection so that you can preserve your assets for a spouse or loved ones. Truly, this is one of the most important documents an adult could have.
• Wills or Trusts:   These legal documents are directives for your loved ones for handling your things.  A Will informs others how your assets should be distributed upon your death to your loved ones as the estate passes through a public process called probate. A living trust can be effective during your lifetime, and when it is funded appropriately, it can serve to avoid the probate process and probate fees. A Will or a living trust directs others how to distribute your assets, who can receive those assets, when loved ones can receive those assets, and how much of your assets loved ones can receive. For more information on Wills and Trusts and which one is best you can access resources on the DocuPrep website. You should speak with at estate planning attorney.

DocuPrep can prepare these documents for you, quickly and easily. We work remotely, so you do not have to break shelter in place or stay at home orders. We work with a mobile notary and will come to you for signing. There are documents that must be executed in person and cannot be signed electronically. We will set up a table outside and will execute the documents with only the required number of people and will maintain social distancing.

For more information and additional resources regarding all of the documents listed above you can go to the DocuPrep website. You should also consult with your estate planning attorney.

DocuPrep offers a flat fee for preparation of these documents. They can be purchased separately or as a package.

Preparation is power!

Jonny is the owner of DocuPrep where she is working to bridge the gap between attorneys and individuals by providing document support services. Her resource blogs are designed to provide you with the necessary tools to organize your information and manage your affairs yourself. Knowledge is Power.

Author: Jonny Morales