Estate Planning

Estate planning is a way of managing your affairs both during your life and after death.  It establishes legal recognition of your personal relationships.

Planning for the future eases your mind and avoids potential conflicts. It is comforting to know you are providing for your family.  Carey & Lillevik can walk you through the necessary documents and help you begin the relevant conversations with your family. Preparation eases some of the stress that can come with unexpected and foreseen circumstances.

Wills

If you fail to leave a will, complex law distributes your assets; a law that does not take your wishes into account. A will dictates how to disperse your assets, and helps to avoid family conflict during an already difficult time period.

Wills may also include trust and guardianship provisions regarding minor children. Taking care of your children is essential in preparing your estate, particularly if you are in a same-sex or unmarried relationship. These are decisions best made by you and planned for on paper.

Powers of Attorney

Granting someone a Power of Attorney allows another to act on your behalf. There is great flexibility available regarding the extent to which another may exercise the Power of Attorney, or allow broad financial or healthcare decision making authority.  You can choose two different people for these powers if you prefer.

In most Power of Attorney relationships, the power ends if you become incapacitated. However, you can specify whether the power should continue should you become unable to make your own decisions. This is generally referred to as a Durable Power of Attorney.

A person must be competent to sign a Power of Attorney. If you are faced with a person who is not legally competent, you should consider whether Guardianship is an appropriate solution.

Health Care Directives

You may wish to document your needs or preferences regarding medical services, in the event that you become unable to articulate them yourself. A Living Will, also known as a Directive to Physicians, outlines your preferences regarding medical treatment. This frees your family from having to make difficult decisions in the event of your incapacitation.

Washington law requires certain language in a health care directive to be valid. It must be witnessed by two people, each of which is neither a family member nor health care professional. You should also make sure that the right people have a copy of this document, including members of your family, your doctors and hospital.