Pinellas County, Florida, Power of Attorney and Advance Directives Lawyer
A standard practice during any estate planning session is for the estate planning attorney to go over the various documents that are known as advance directives to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of the client in anticipation of some type of illness or incapacity. Without such documents in place, the law will determine who it is that would make decisions for you in the event you could not make them for yourself, and the decision made by a Circuit Court Judge, or a hospital may not be the one that you would make for yourself.
At The Law Office of Thomas G. Tripp, I can provide you with the sound counsel and experienced representation you need to protect your rights and interests in creating a durable power of attorney or other advance directive. Contact me for an initial consultation.
Who should appoint a power of attorney?
Everyone should carefully consider appointing someone to act as agent under a durable power of attorney and a designation of heath care surrogate. Creating a power of attorney is especially important for individuals without close family, for individuals that have second or third marriages, or for individuals that might have some type of discord within their family. It is also important for individuals who are living with a life partner or in a non-traditional relationship.
Types of advance directives can include:
- Durable power of attorney: (including financial power of attorney) A document that you create in advance of becoming incapacitated that designates a trusted person to act as your agent with regard to your assets, liabilities, and all financial aspects of your life.
- Designation of Health Care Surrogate: (health care power of attorney) Designates someone that has the legal authority to consult with your physicians and make medical decisions on your behalf in the event that you are unable to do so due to if you are suffering from a temporary or permanent, illness or incapacity.
- A living will: A written statement regarding the level of treatment, if any, you would desire in the event that you are suffering from an illness or injury under circumstances that you are unable to make decisions on your own and you are in a persistent vegetative state, an end stage condition, or some other terminal condition.
Contact The Law Office of Thomas G. Tripp in Pinellas County, Florida for a free consultation with an experienced elder law and estate planning lawyer. For your convenience, credit cards accepted.
The Law Office of Thomas G. Tripp
4930 Park Blvd
Pinellas Park, FL 33781-3410
Phone: 727-369-8761
Fax: 727-546-0529