From Our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “I have heard stories about Power of Attorney abuse and theft. So, where do I keep my Power of Attorney?”
Power of Attorney abuse is a real problem. A typical durable general power of attorney gives your “Agent” the authority to access your accounts and sell your assets. These capabilities are essential so your Agent can take care of you. But, they are also powers that can lead to theft and fraud.
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: “My mother lives in Philadelphia and is getting divorced. Does she need an estate lawyer in PA? Does divorce and estate planning go together?”
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses the issue of combining a medical power of attorney and divorce.
“I gave my wife my medical power of attorney and divorce started soon after. During our divorce proceedings, does my wife still have the power to pull my plug?”
Our “Ask a Question” mailbag addresses the issue of which documents to change when divorcing.: “My Wife is divorcing me, what estate planning documents should I change to protect myself?”
“I am not sure which documents to change when divorcing. My Wife has filed for divorce, what estate planning documents should I change to protect myself?”
From our “Ask a Question” mailbag: My son does not get along with his stepfather and wants to move to another state to live with relatives. He won’t turn 18 for another year. How do I manage medical decisions for him if he is in another state?
For non-emergency medical care, there is likely no problem as you can communicate with his local doctor and give authorization for examinations or minor care. Work with his doctor and give their office the authorization that they request.
Periodically reviewing your Pennsylvania estate plan is critical. Significant life events including marriages, children and moving can dramatically affect how your assets are distributed. Other issues such as changes in state and federal laws can also affect your intended estate plan. In addition to your plan failing, old and unreviseddocuments can delay probate, and in some cases end up in litigation. These are some of the many reasons reasons to periodically review your estate plan to ensure it still reflects your intentions.
Decades ago, when I started my practice as an estate-planning attorney, there were rumblings about how modern medicine was changing the way people died. For most of human existence death came quickly from an illness or injury about which physicians could do nothing. Now, advances in medical knowledge allow us to battle death, giving us more time with our loved ones. But this same gift often makes the dying process a long, slow struggle against an incurable disease or untreatable injury. Sometimes, after a long struggle with illness and with full knowledge that death is certain and the future holds nothing but suffering, a person will decide to voluntarily stop eating and drinking (“VSED”), which hastens the inevitable end.
Every modern medical advance to make our lives better brings with it new challenges and problems we must address.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven-attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Peter Klenk received his Master’s in Taxation, LL.M., from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
"I worked for Peter Klenk for 4 wonderful years. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the firm. Everyone truly cares about their clients and has a strong sense of responsibility to get things done right. I would highly recommend Klenk Law!"
Flora Novick
Very easy to deal with. Like the fact they are focused on estate planning and their expertise in this area shows. Peter and staff were helpful and easy to communicate with.
Klenk was efficient and professional in designing and executing the necessary documents for my trust, will and associated paperwork after my moving to pa from out of state. This allowed an inherently unpleasant responsibility to be completed with minimal agony and diligence. His web site further enables executed document update and distribution with minimal fuss.
A very friendly knowledgeable experience. I would recommend and use them again.
I've been through the process of creating and revising estate documents several times over the years and it's never been easier than it was with Peter Klenk. Always available and a master at explain arcane tax and legal issues in plain English for "dummies". I recommend the firm without reservation.
Klenk Law is a professional and class act from start to finish. Peter, and all of his staff members are patient, clear, and trustworthy, all within the context of a user friendly, kind, and comfortable ambience.
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