by Ellen Mason, Hotline Attorney Sarah is a spry and sassy 93-year-old – or “middle age” as she says. She’s totally “with it” but doesn’t want to handle her checking account and bills anymore. She wants someone to do it for her. Sarah wants a “durable power of attorney for finances.” One of the first things Sarah needs to do is figure out who’s going to … Continue reading Here’s My Money: Handle With Care
by Kathryn Larlee, J.D., Hotline Attorney “There are only two things in life that are certain; death and taxes.” – Benjamin Franklin 1789. By a strange coincidence, National Healthcare Decisions Day fell on April 16th, right before tax day, today, April 18th. National Healthcare Decisions Day is a day dedicated to “having the conversation.” This conversation can be more difficult to initiate than getting started on … Continue reading National Healthcare Decisions Day
by Kimberly E. O’Leary, Professor Law & Director, Sixty Plus, Inc. Elderlaw Clinic, Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School Many elder law attorneys encourage their clients to sign Durable Powers of Attorney, and my office does too. Having a DPOA can reduce the chances of an older adult having a guardianship imposed and thus, increase independence longer into life. Your chosen agent can help … Continue reading Making it Easy to Spot and Report Suspected Exploitation
by Char Brooks, J.D., Project Healthy Living Coach “Dying is part of the human experience and part of the natural progression in life. We have the capacity to transform how we live and die in this culture.” – Ellen Goodman, co-founder of The Conversation Project. Despite the fact that I am an attorney and have also been a caregiver several times to family members, I find … Continue reading National Healthcare Decisions Day
by Christine Steinmetz, J.D., Hotline Attorney This post is part two of a series of blog posts examining Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare. Part one can be found here. In our last blog, we discussed what a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is and some questions that are frequently asked regarding it. As we discussed previously, a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is … Continue reading What is a Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare? – Part Two
by Christine Steinmetz, JD Many of us have heard of a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances, but do we really understand what it can do for us? First, you may ask, what exactly is a Durable Power of Attorney for Finances? A Durable Power of Attorney is a legal form that allows a person, called a “Principal”, to transfer financial decision making powers to … Continue reading Steps To Take Before Drafting a Durable Power of Attorney For Finances
