The overall purpose of estate planning involves more than just passing your assets to your heirs at death. Even if you have a relatively modest estate and do not need living trusts or other vehicles to provide extra protection to your heirs, you still need to plan for unexpected events that can occur any time during your life. An effective estate planning lawyer in Salt Lake City carefully reviews all details and advises you of the steps you need to take.
Many unexpected events — like sudden illness, injuries or loss of physical and mental capacities — can render you incapable of making important decisions pertaining to your own health care. This is why the Utah Department of Human Services recommends setting up an Advance Directive. This document contains a health care power of attorney that names one or more individuals you trust to make your vital medical decisions when you cannot make them for yourself. It also includes a living will that specifies your end-of-life preferences regarding life-prolonging medical procedures.
Of course, designating other people to make your life-or-death decisions requires them to exercise judgment and responsibility that may be well beyond their comfort level. To make sure everyone is fully informed, your Salt Lake City estate planning attorneys require a consultation with you and the individuals you designate. This meeting helps ensure your agents know their position in the decision-making hierarchy. Perhaps most importantly, it allows you to enter into frank discussions to help determine if the people you designate understand and support your personal health care preferences.
The estate planning lawyers at Larsen, Larsen, Nash & Larsen take a holistic approach to help you prepare for your future and the future of your loved ones. We offer free consultations to individuals throughout northern Utah. Contact us to learn how we can help.