INCAPACITY PLANNING

Many people create a plan for their incapacity only after they are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or as they are aging and beginning to think about end-of-life issues. The reality, however, is that an accident or unexpected medical problem could leave anyone of any age unable to communicate or care for themselves. You want your wishes known and respected, and an incapacity plan ensures that you control your own destiny and that your family is not put into a difficult situation. If you have not already started incapacity planning, now is the time — do not wait until you need a plan because by then it could be too late!

Incapacity planning involves using legal tools to determine what happens to you when you are no longer able communicate or care for yourself. Some major components of incapacity plans are:

• the creation of a Living Will or Advanced Healthcare Directive, which determines what life-saving or emergency medical care you will undergo;
• the creation of a Durable Power of Attorney, which allows you to name an Agent who is able to manage your affairs and look out for your best interests; and
• the creation of a Healthcare Power of Attorney, which lets you name an Agent who will make other medical decisions not specified in your Living Will if you are unable to consent to care.

Incapacity planning is often done in conjunction with the creation of a comprehensive estate plan — but it doesn’t have to be. Barbara M. Pizzolato, P.A. can assist in keeping you secure in an uncertain future through incapacity planning, long-term planning, legacy planning, and beyond.

Do not leave your loved ones struggling to get guardianship and make tough choices, call a compassionate attorney dedicated to helping you best plan ahead in case of incapacity. Our attorney, Ms. Pizzolato, has over three decades of experience providing incapacity planning to clients of all ages and can offer a plan custom-made just for you!