Will, Advanced Directive, Trust

Heeran

I just watched a recorded episode of Suze Ormon and the topic she covered was getting a will, trust, advanced directive set up. She ended the show with a free giftcode on her website to get the documents set up for free. It's a limited time offer. I just went out there and got it started and saved my info so that I can go back out nextime to finish it up. http://www.suzeorman.com, click "Must Have Documents", Click "Gift Code", Type "cnbc" and create a login name and password. Then you can come back later and finish it up.

Funny thing is, I have an appointment set up with a trust attorney on the 23rd to set up these exact same docs. I might have just saved myself a bundle of money.

unclaw2002

Power of Attorney legal docs
Hi - Everyone should also prepare a power of attorney (both medical and for personal business property matters). The Power of Attorney is essential, especially if your loved one is not fully aware of everything going on and you need to make decisions about care or other important matters. While many folks don't like to think about these things it is an important part of getting things arranged for our loved ones.

In the spirit of full disclosure I am an attorney (but this is not legal advice). I think many of the online services are wonderful. However, I would caution against only using an on-line service or a website to prepare all these documents. Please make sure a licensed attorney reviews the final documents and assures you they are enforceable in the state your loved one lives in.

If you want to do the heavy lifting and get the document drafted that is fine. I would then run the documents by an attorney who is experienced in this area of law in the State where your loved one lives. Each state has different rules about what constitutes a valid will, how it must be signed (for example in some states you must fully sign and date each page, in other states you only need to initial and date each page and sign the signature page, in other states you only need to initial the page --- ) and then there are the steps to establish that it is an original will. I urge all of you to make sure you do it properly because once the person is gone there are no easy fixes and it really just adds to the nightmare if you have problems with the legal documentation.

And make sure you keep the originals in a safe place you can get to fairly easily and scan the document so you have access to a PDF.

Best,
Cindy

Unknown

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TerryV

Living Will
Nick and I like the humanity and caring aspects of the 5 Wishes Living Will. It's free for on-line printing or you can have a hard copy mailed for only $5.00 each. You can find it at www.fivewishes.com.

I believe they say that they are legal in more than 40 states.

Terry

Callaloo

Advanced directive
I've prepared hundreds of wills and trusts in the 30 years I've been a practicing attorney, but for an Advanced Directive, I will usually send the client to his or her treating physician.

In Oregon, the Advanced Directive is established by statute and all the forms contain the identical language. Most doctors have them in their office and will provide them to patients free of charge. Aside from saving clients' some money, many physicians will have someone on staff who can answer end of life questions (what happens when you turn off the feeding tube?) that a lawyer can't answer. Also, it's a good idea for the treating physician to have a copy of the Advanced Directive in the patient's chart, since it will probably be that physician who will have the duty of implementing the Directive if it becomes necessary.

Living Wills are not something that's used in Oregon.

Wills and trusts, and power of attorneys should always be reviewed by a competent attorney. I have seen so many sad, unintended results from poorly drafted, home-made trusts, etc., that could easily have been avoided.

Lu in Oregon