ESTATE PLANNING
Estate planning is a vital process that allows individuals to manage and protect their assets, plan for incapacity, and ensure their wishes are carried out upon their passing. At Reed Mawhinney & Link, we provide comprehensive estate planning services tailored to your unique needs and objectives. We listen and then provide counsel, not the other way around.
Strategies for Life and Beyond
Estate planning addresses concerns you have during life and issues that can arise at your death. We employ legal documents and well-planned strategies to arrange your affairs so that your family can assist you in incapacity and lawfully deal with your assets at death. Our attorneys devote time so that your family’s time and expense is minimized as much as possible.
Last Wills and Testaments
A Last Will and Testament, commonly known as a will, is a foundational document in estate planning. It outlines how you want your assets to be distributed after your death and appoints an executor to oversee the administration of your estate. Our estate planning team assists clients in drafting and updating wills to ensure wishes are accurately reflected and legally enforceable as you move throughout your life’s journey.
Durable Powers of Attorney
A Durable Power of Attorney (POA) is a crucial component of estate planning that designates a trusted individual (known as the agent or attorney-in-fact) to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated. This document grants authority to the agent to manage financial affairs, pay bills, access accounts, and make important decisions according to your best interests. Our attorneys help clients create durable powers of attorney to protect their financial interests and ensure continuity in decision-making at life’s most pivotal moments.
Health Care Surrogates
A Health Care Surrogate, also known as a Health Care Proxy or Medical Power of Attorney, appoints a representative to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so due to incapacity. This document allows your chosen surrogate to communicate with healthcare providers, access medical records, consent to treatments, and make end-of-life decisions based on your wishes and values. Our firm assists clients in identifying, selecting and appointing healthcare surrogates to ensure their healthcare preferences are honored and respected.
Living Wills
A Living Will, also known as an Advance Directive or Directive to Physicians, expresses your preferences regarding medical treatments and life-sustaining measures in the event of terminal illness or permanent unconsciousness. It specifies whether you want to receive or refuse certain medical interventions, such as artificial nutrition, hydration, or resuscitation. Our attorneys help clients understand these difficult, but important decisions, and then create living wills to provide clear instructions to healthcare providers and loved ones regarding their medical care preferences.
