Do you need an experienced lawyer to help you prepare your Last Will and Testament? Gulotta & Gulotta can help you with this quickly and efficiently. We can also help with other long-term care and estate planning. “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

• Living Wills
• Last Wills & Testaments
• Health Care Proxies
• Power of Attorney
• Trusts

Last Wills & Testaments Explained

A last will and testament is a legal document that allows an individual to express his or her last wishes as to how belongings and property will be distributed after passing away. These documents typically name one or more persons to be the executor/executrix of the estate, the person(s) who manages the entire estate to carry out the wishes expressed in the will.

So What is a Living Will?

A living will is essentially another legal document that explains your wishes regarding life support in the event you become unable to express your own desires. It is your legal right to choose to be revived through extraordinary measures if you so desire, or you can reject resuscitation. A living will allow an individual to remove the burden on loved ones and express his or her own desire to be kept comfortable without remaining on life-supportive measures indefinitely.

What is a Health Care Proxy?

A healthcare proxy allows an individual to appoint someone he or she trusts to make medical decisions on his or her behalf in the event he or she is unable to communicate. This document establishes which other person(s) are authorized to make important medical decisions on another’s behalf, eliminating any power struggles or arguments amongst loved ones.

Power of Attorney

This document allows an individual to authorize another person whom he or she trusts to act on his or her behalf regarding legal and financial decisions. A power of attorney can be tailored to specific transactions, dates, or types of matters (ex. “real estate transactions” or “banking transactions”). This document can also require the authorized individual to report his or her transactions to another trusted individual, called a “monitor.” This document can be revoked at any time and will automatically terminate upon the individual’s death.

Trusts

Trusts are valuable legal instruments that can accomplish a wide variety of protections. Trusts are commonly used to shield valuable property (ex. real estate) from being exposed to creditors. Trusts are also used to hold valuable property safely on behalf of minors until reaching a specified age. Trust can also be used to supplement the needs of individuals who may receive financial assistance from the government.

Remember, unexpected events in life do happen! It is better to be prepared and have an estate plan in place so that you can have peace of mind that all of your affairs will be in order and your last wishes met before you leave this world.

If you have any questions or require any of the legal services mentioned above, then please feel free to contact our office for help.

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