Estate Planning

Whether incident to family law disputes or not, Erica Baez Law assists clients with new or amended wills, powers of attorney, and advance medical directives.

Wills

It is important that our clients have a Last Will and Testament.  A will details how you want your property distributed upon death, to whom you wish to designate as your executor, and when there are minor children, who you select as their guardian.  Not all property passes under a will, so it is equally important to check on beneficiary designations for assets such as retirement plans and life insurance policies, and to ensure that bank and investment accounts are properly titled.  Access to safe deposit boxes can also be problematic if the proper forms are not filled out with the bank. We are happy to assist with all the specifics necessary to your case.  This is especially important in cases where clients are separated or recently divorced.

Power of Attorney

While a will is not effective until you die, a power of attorney is effective upon execution and can serve as a very useful instrument for managing your assets while you are still living and even after you have become mentally incapacitated, meaning that you are unable to handle your own affairs.  This may be the case due to aging, disability, or extended periods of absence. When you have this legally binding document in place, you can rest assured that your affairs will be handled by your agent if you are unable to do so.

There are many types of power of attorney, and we can help you with a variety that are tailored to your needs. Great care is needed in selecting a trustworthy agent, and a successor agent should your primary agent be unable to serve.

Advance Medical Directive

What would happen if you could not communicate what type of medical treatment you want? This is a possibility if you are in an accident or suffer from a disabling medical condition that significantly impairs your physical and mental faculties.

It is critical that you take the time to execute an advance medical directive setting forth your desires before an accident or you suffer from any disability. That is the function of an advance medical directive.

Advance medical directives can also designate a trusted person to make decisions for you that are consistent with your desires. You do not want to be in the position where your loved ones get into an argument about issues like whether treatment should be withheld, and you likely do not want a judge to be the ultimate decision maker with such personal issues. We can help you.

Contact us today HERE for more information about estate planning.