A comprehensive estate plan not only provides instructions for after you die, but also instructions regarding medical treatment and financial decisions if you become incapacitated and cannot make these decisions on your own. These instructions are often referred to as power of attorney or advance directives.
The experienced estate planning attorneys at Brudvik Law Office will guide you through the process of creating advance directives as part of a comprehensive estate plan. Call or use our online contact form to schedule a meeting so we can draft these important documents for you. We represent clients throughout North Dakota and western Minnesota.
If you created advance directives as part of an estate plan that was developed many years ago, it is time to review them to ensure they still express your wishes. We will review existing estate documents with you and update them as needed.
Don’t Leave Loved Ones Wondering What Your Wishes Would Be
Most people have definite opinions about what steps they want taken in the event they become comatose, terminally ill or otherwise incapacitated. However, several studies indicate that fewer than 40 percent of adults in the U.S. have prepared any type of advance directives.
When you establish a power of attorney, you designate a person to be your “agent,” who will then have the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to make them for yourself. You may designate a different agent for health care and financial matters. You should select someone you trust to look out for your best interests and act in good faith. You may give your agent general or all-encompassing power of attorney or list more specific issues that person may address.
Call or email us to schedule a consultation with one of our estate planning lawyers, in West Fargo or an office that is convenient for you. We will answer your questions and recommend an effective course of action.