As an attorney, I help many people get their documents in order appointing their financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney, Executor, Trustee, etc. However, many clients do not involve their children in making those decisions. Consequently, the family may not know your desires regarding many different issues. Furthermore, you may not be able to communicate those desires at the time of crisis.
While your documents should state your wishes to a large extent, the more you elaborate and communicate those wishes to your loved ones, the easier it will be to fulfill those wishes. Following are some questions that may generate discussions with family or loved ones:
• Who do you want to assist you with your health care decisions and finances if you are unable to make them yourself?
• At what point would you concede to moving to an assisted living facility or full skilled care facility?
• How do you want to pay for long term care if needed?
• Do you anticipate using Medicaid benefits to pay for long term care?
• If you anticipate using Medicaid benefits to pay for long term care, have you investigated the spend-down options or any options to potentially set aside and protect some assets?
• Are you or your spouse a veteran? If so, does your family know where your discharge papers are?
• At what level are you comfortable being removed from life support?
• Do you want a DNR?
• What type of funeral/cremation do you want?
• Do you want certain sentimental items to be given to specific people?
While not everyone is comfortable discussing all these issues with their children or loved ones, re-viewing these questions may at least instigate the thought process. You may not have even thought through these issues yourself to even be able to tell your family or loved ones your desires. Hopefully reviewing these questions will prompt thinking on your part and maybe some research with a trusted professional as well as your family or loved ones.
WHY CCJ? Critchfield, Critchfield & Johnston is unique among law firms in the entire United States, possessing in our five smaller cities capabilities and sophistication typically found only in major metropolitan areas. But we provide that superior work at rates considerably below those charged by law firms in those metro areas. The firm traces its roots to the time of the Civil War, when Lyman Critchfield served as Attorney General of Ohio and has grown today to approximately forty attorneys.
We handle matters ranging from the simplest personal matters to the most complicated commercial transactions, and everything in between, working in virtually every area of the law other than criminal defense and domestic relations. Superior client service, regardless of your need, performed promptly, at a reasonable cost, and with the highest ethical standards. Friendly and courteous people, eager to do their best for the client.
This defines Why CCJ.
