Financial vs Medical Durable Powers of Attorney

Many of us don't know what a Financial Durable Power of Attorney and a Medical Durable Power of Attorney are or how they work. 

For now, if you can separate the two as giving power to act for you regarding your finances (Financial Durable Power of Attorney) and the power to act for you regarding your medical decisions (Medical Durable Power of Attorney).  The Durable aspect of these powers is another blog, which I promise I'll write in the near future.

If you are unfamiliar with these two types of power you can give to another person, it may sound kind of scary to give that much power to someone else.  What if they abuse this power and take all of your money?  What if they don't come to the hospital and make sure you are taken care should you not be able to speak? 

These are very real concerns and that is why it is important to choose your agents (people who step into your shoes for you when you need their help).  We'll be talking more about how to choose an agent another day, but for now, choose these people carefully, just as you will your childrens' guardians.

As a brief introduction into these two powers that are a regular part of your legal papers that your estate lawyer will help you with, take a look at the comparison table I've included here.  Even if you don't understand anything more than this table when you talk with your estate lawyer, you'll be doing better than most people.  

This topic of durable powers of attorney has so many sub-topics that it will take a while for us to work through everything.  We'll take it nice and easy and break out the chunks of information into easy to understand language.  This is a good first step.  

Take care,

Kay

On-Line Legal Forms for Wills, Medical Declarations and Trusts

When I first thought of creating a blog for my 9-Step program, I learned that I could add advertising and maybe earn a little money from this.  So I eagerly set up advertising areas on my blog and within 10 minutes, I had advertisers on my blog!  It was extremely easy!

Only problem with this is now I had on-line legal firms (and crematory companies!) advertising on my blog that I had no idea who they were or how reputable they were.  When you read my book, Planning, Preparing and Peace, Creating and Compiling Your Will and Other Essential Documents with Kay Diller, you'll see that I do not recommend using on-line, unknown legal firms to write your legal documents because you never really know what you are working with. This is too important an area in our lives to save a few dollars with these on-line, unknown legal firms. 

I believe that we need to deal with estate lawyers that we have researched and have first-hand knowledge about.  When you deal with reputable lawyers, yes, you will pay a little more money, but when it's time for these important legal documents to help you, they will work!  

Don't mess around with on-line legal firms...do your homework and hire one that works hard and smart for you.  You'll always be glad you did.

BTW, any advertisers that may show up on my site are companies and legal firms that I have personal information on and wholeheartedly approve of.  If you know of estate lawyers, insurance agents/brokers, or other people who can help during a medical emergency, let me know and I will do my research and will happily post their advertisements on my blog.

Until next time,

Kay