Phoenix Estate Planning Attorney
Creating a Power of Attorney Now Can Protect You in the Future
When most people think about estate planning, they consider how assets should be distributed to future generations through a will or other estate planning. They may even think about creating a living will to declare their wishes regarding life-sustaining measures. However, many people fail to consider the critical estate planning measures that offer protection while they are still alive.
Arizona estate planning attorney James F. Byrne, Jr., assists clients with creating a power of attorney as an integral element of their estate plan. For a free initial consultation to discuss our services, contact James F. Byrne, Jr., PLLC.
Medical Power of Attorney ∙ Financial Power of Attorney
Whether you are married or unmarried, without a power of attorney in place, your loved ones may not have the authority to manage your health care or financial affairs when you are incapable of doing so on your own.
- Medical Power of Attorney: What if illness or disease, such as Alzheimer's, sets in on your future and you cannot personally manage your own health care needs, either because you cannot communicate your wishes or because you lack the capacity to make responsible decisions. A durable medical power of attorney (also known as a health care power of attorney) is a document that allows you to appoint someone else to be responsible for your health care needs in the event that you lack the capacity. This can include handling your medication, medical appointments, and other health care needs, including making important decisions regarding your health care.
- Financial power of attorney: What if you suffer a sudden head injury in the future and lack the capacity to manage your monthly bills, investments, and other financial affairs? As unlikely as this may seem, it happens, and it could happen to you. A durable financial power of attorney is a document that allows you to appoint someone else to manage your financial affairs. A financial power of attorney can be created to be effective immediately upon creation or to become effective upon the occurrence of a specific event, such as when a medical professional has declared that you lack the mental capacity to handle such responsibilities.
Guidance From an Experienced Phoenix Lawyer
With 35 years of legal experience, attorney James F. Byrne, Jr., has the knowledge and skill to help you understand how a power of attorney can benefit you and your family. A power of attorney can offer peace of mind now and protection in the future. In addition, by proactively creating a power of attorney now, you can save your family the time, hassle, and expense of having to go to court and appoint a guardian in the event that something should happen in the future.
We are also available to establish a power of attorney for clients who need important documentation outside of the estate planning process. For example, parents who are leaving their child with a family member or friend for an extended period as they take a vacation or travel abroad, may need a power of attorney to ensure that the child's temporary caregiver has legal authority to handle health care needs or other needs of the child.
If you have questions about creating a power of attorney or would like to schedule an appointment with James F. Byrne, Jr., contact James F. Byrne, Jr., PLLC, in Phoenix, Arizona.
