Everyone can get sick and need help, everyone eventually dies. All adults, 18 years and older, should have these three essential estate planning documents. Certainly the content in these three documents can vary widely from person-to-person. Nevertheless, these materials help avoid expensive court proceedings and ensure your wishes are respected.
Guardianship: You could fall ill or have an accident leaving you incapacitated for a week, month or years. Petitioning the court for a Guardian becomes necessary if you have not executed a Power of Attorney giving an Agent authority to act for you financially, or a Health Care Power of Attorney giving an Agent authority to make medical decisions.
Intestacy, Having No will at Death: If you have no plan, then your assets pass under the State’s plan. Also, without a Will, there are no protective trusts. Further, your spouse or your children may receive more or less than you intend, leaving your wishes disregarded. The Intestacy Rules do not take your wishes into consideration. A Will allows you to craft a plan that reflects your real desires.
#1 The Will: Without a Will, the state decides where your assets pass at death. The State provides no protective trusts and disregards your wishes. Ensure respect for your wishes with a properly drafted Will. A well drafted Will also provides for your child’s care. Here are some examples of typical Will provisions.
#2 The Financial Power of Attorney:. If you are incapacitated, the Durable General Power of Attorney appoints the person or persons who manage your assets. Without this document, your family is forced to file for Guardianship. The court is free to select the Guardian, who might not be a family member.
#3 The Medical Power of Attorney and Living Will: In a Medical Proxy and a Living Will you choose the person who will make your medical decisions if you are ever unable to act yourself. This person has the right to select your doctor and your treatment. Further, this surrogate has the right to refuse medical care. You should pick this person who will carry out your wishes. You must also communicate clearly your wishes to your surrogate.
If you have any questions about these 3 essential estate planning documents or any other estate planning topics, feel free to contact us to schedule a free consultation. For more than two decades Klenk Law has focused only on Estate Law. We’ve seen it all, and this experience allows us to explain complex estate planning techniques clearly and concisely. We make it easy for you to understand the essential estate planning documents so you can make the best decisions for yourself and your family.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters 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
Peter is a model attorney who puts his clients first at all costs. His extensive expertise in estate planning and tax planning was a great comfort as we began, and have expanded, our family. He is very thoughtful, generous, and quick witted. His approach towards his business has been an inspiration to his peer group, and his zest for life is extremely infectious. Without reservation, I highly recommend Peter as trusted and cherished counsel
I met Peter soon after he started his practice in Philadelphia, PA. He and his team have always been there for me and my various inquiries throughout my life-changing events, corporate relocations. I have lived in various cities throughout the nation, I have never had a problem in contacting Peter or a member of his team. He and his office responds quickly and returns calls to me to fulfill my requests for information or to revise my estate needs while posing relevant thought-provoking questions that I need to consider to secure my future. One of Peter's best qualities is his ability to answer clients complicated questions in a simple way to ensure comprehension.
Peter Klenk was great in leading us in the estate planning process.He was clear in describing the various steps and what they would accomplish. We were well satisfied and pleased that we had Peter to guide us.
Peter Klenk ESQ is a thoughtful and capable attorney who we work with on estate planning issues. His firm recently provided us with new Wills, Power of Attorneys and our instructions regarding major health issues. These documents are important for estate and life planning. Peter and his team are masters in the complexities of Estate Law. We highly recommend Peter and his Associates to provide thoughtful advice and outstanding work on these complex issues of the law. Make sure your estate planning documents are up to date, and Peter can be relied on to do an excellent job. Well done Peter!
Everything about my experience was a 10+! Peter and his staff made what I thought would be a difficult process easy and understandable. Every detail was handled correctly. No other firm could possibly do better than Klenk Law!
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