Why a POA Matters – Part 1
Whenever we get a call from a family in the midst of a medical crisis, one of the first questions we ask is whether there is a power of attorney. If so, we want to review that document. I have written about this very basic but often overlooked document in the past
Am I Too Young for an Estate Plan or Long Term Care Plan? Part 2
In my blog post last week I talked about a scenario we are seeing with increasing frequency. We have had a number of what we call crisis calls relating to a family member who has experienced a sudden onset of injury or illness causing the need for long term care -
If I Move to Another State Do I Need to Update my Documents?
It’s a common question we get from clients who intend to move out of New Jersey. We also get calls from people moving to New Jersey who want us to review estate planning documents prepared in another state. These documents may include wills, powers of attorney, health care directives and trusts. Do these
What Exactly am I Authorized to Do with a POA? (Part 1)
In my blog post this week I want to talk about the different types of powers of attorney and the confusion people sometimes have concerning what exactly each document allows them to do. Although different people may choose to use different names, I prefer to categorize the ability each
Hospital Escape Story – Part 2
Last week I was telling you about a story related to me by a parent of children who just turned age 18 and which reinforced for her the importance of having proper legal documents in place now that would allow her to make important decisions for her children. So,
Health Care Directives and HIPAA Releases
It’s a common mistake, confusing a health care directive and a HIPAA release. Both are necessary but they are not identical. First let’s look at a health care directive. There are actually two types of directives, an instruction directive and a proxy directive, both of which are important. An