There are some essential legal documents which need to be in place for any person in case the worst should happen. We have document packages available for all people sorted by State.
I. Wills
Even if you do not have much money or own any real estate, a will is a simple way to make your intentions clear for your desired distribution of your assets and debts in the event of your death. A will also provides the opportunity to specify whom you wish to be the guardian of any minor children, as well as to name the personal representative of your choice to administer your estate through the probate process.
II. Trust
Another way to designate who will receive your property upon your death is through a revocable trust. A trust is similar to a will in that it allows you to say who should get what; it differs from a will in that property left by a will must go through the court probate process – which means that the will must be proven valid, and the person’s debts are paid before property is distributed. With a trust, your property is distributed without having to go through a formal probate process. Revocable trusts can be used to permit you to transfer your ownership of your assets to the trust, while still maintaining control of those assets during your lifetime. Although the trust is technically the owner of the property, you may maintain management and control of the property as the trustee.
III. Living Will
If you should be in a terminal health condition, this advance directive states your intention for how you would want to be treated.
IV. Designation of Pre-Need Guardian
If a court determines you are unable to handle your medical and/or financial decisions, a guardian may be appointed for you. Specify whom you would want to perform this task for you, or the court will likely appoint someone else.
V. Designation of Pre-Need Guardian for Minor Child
If you have a minor child, and you are not married, you can designate a guardian to care for him or her in the event of your disability or death. In addition, if you are married and both of you should tragically pass away together in an accident or illness, the designation of a pre-need guardian for a minor child will assure you that your child or children will be cared for by the person or persons of your choice.
VI. Designation of Health Care Surrogate
This document is about access and decision making in the health-care context. Health care providers love this document because they know to whom they can turn for consent for medical procedures. It differs from a living will in that a living will deals for someone who is in a terminal condition and who may not be able to designate what they wish to have done while they are in that stage.
These are simple life planning documents that every individual and/or couple should consider implementing. As the old saying goes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Those individuals who possess these documents will be able to assure that their care and/or the distribution of their assets will be done in a manner they wish rather than in a manner that they may not desire.
This package contains the following forms:
(1) Last Will
(2) General Durable Power of Attorney
(3) Statutory Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
(4) Health Care Directive
(5) Uniform Statutory Power of Attorney
(6) Statutory Notice Required for Printed Durable POA Forms
(7) Estate Planning Questionnaire and Worksheets
(8) Personal Planning Information and Document Inventory Worksheets
(9) Legal Life Document Organizer
This Life Documents Personal Planning Package is one of the most essential tools you can use to take control of your legal affairs and personal planning. An important feature is that the legal forms included are “state-specific.” This means the forms have been written to comply with the laws of your State.
A large Life Documents Organizer is also included (see photo below) to enable you to store and maintain your legal documents and important records in one single folder for “grab it and go” convenience. The Organizer Folder will be sent to you by mail after receipt of your order.
