ESTATE PLANNING

Do you have these safeguards in place?

Last Will and Testament.  Specifies how you want your assets distributed after death and who you want to settle your estate and distribute your assets.  If you die without a valid will, your assets will be distributed according to state law and possibly require expensive court-supervised settlement.

Durable Power of Attorney. Appoints an agent to manage your financial affairs if you become incapacitated.  If you become incapacitated and do not have a valid power of attorney or other means for someone to manage your financial affairs, then an expensive court-supervised guardianship proceeding might be required.

Medical Power of Attorney. Appoints an agent to make medical decisions if you become incapacitated. 

Declaration of Guardian in Event of Incapacity or Later Need.  Allows you to designate who should be appointed your guardian if one is ever appointed, and perhaps more importantly, allows you to disqualify a person, including a next of kin, from being appointed your guardian.

HIPPA Authorization.  Lets you designate who may have access to your medical information. 

Advance Directive to Physicians (Living Will). Documents your wishes for end-stage health care if you become incapacitated.

Revocable Living Trust.  Allows you to appoint yourself as trustee (and a successor trustee to take over if you die or become incapacitated) to manage the distribution of your assets during your lifetime and beyond. 

Get started today.  For an appointment or questionnaire, contact Michelle Lowe, Paralegal, 817.820.0825 or mlowe@johnstonlegalgroup.com, or call attorney Marilyn Shell.

You might also find useful general information in the resources listed below

To Will or Not to Will.  State Bar of Texas publication with general information about wills and probate in Texas.   

At the Bridge Table, Clues to a Lucid Old Age. June 2009 newspaper article.  You might find that the letters are as interesting as the article. 

Memory loss: 7 tips to improve your memory.  From the Mayo Clinic website: "Concerned about memory loss? Take heart. There's plenty you can do to improve your memory — from staying mentally active to including physical activity in your daily routine."

The New Old Age: What I Wish I'd Done Differently by Jane Gross. Article by a journalist about her elder parent's last years.

American Bar Association Frequently Asked Questions on Estate Planning & Administration from the Real Property and Probate and Trust Law Section

Living Trust Scams.  A publication by the State Bar of Texas about trust scams  "If you are age 50 or older, you should take special care when buying living trusts. Your age group is often a special target of salespersons whose goal is to sell you something without carefully analyzing your needs....