Fiduciary Services
A fiduciary is an individual who is responsible for managing the money or property for another person.
This fiduciary has the obligation to act for another’s benefit. Specifying a fiduciary becomes critical in case you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions for yourself.
We are qualified to serve as a Power of Attorney or court-appointed Guardian.
We take our responsibilities seriously while treating our clients with compassion.
Power of Attorney
A Power of Attorney (POA) is a legal document that designates someone (an Agent) to act on behalf of another individual (the Principal). The POA document specifies the duties and responsibilities that the Agent is authorized to conduct on behalf of the Principal.
Every adult has day-to-day affairs to manage, such as paying the bills. People are frequently under the impression that, in the event of catastrophic illness or injury, a spouse or child can automatically step in for them. Unfortunately, this is incorrect. A Power of Attorney allows your partner or another person to make decisions for you during your lifetime when you cannot.
A Power of Attorney is important because it gives one or more persons the power to act on your behalf if you become incapacitated. A POA can be as broad or as specific as you require for your finances or your healthcare.
The lack of a properly prepared and executed Power of Attorney can cause major difficulties if you are stricken with a severe illness or injury rendering you unable to make decisions or manage your financial and medical affairs.
Guardianship
Dementia or other progressive mental, emotional, or physical illnesses can rob people of the ability to manage for themselves. A person may not be capable of appointing a Power of Attorney to manage their affairs. When this happens, seeking Guardianship may become a necessity.
The Guardianship process requires numerous entitles to come together for the good of the incapacitated person. This can include family, friends, healthcare providers, nursing homes, adult protective services, and other concerned persons.
When a Guardianship is needed, the court system becomes involved. The process can be different in each state. The end result is that a Guardian is appointed by the Court to manage the financial and healthcare decisions of a person who has been determined to be incapacitated. This process can be slow, costly, and very frustrating. The guardianship process is this way for a reason – to protect the rights of individuals. The forethought of a Power of Attorney could avoid the cumbersome process of guardianship proceedings.
Could you or your loved ones benefit from our help?
Please contact us to see how we can make life more manageable and stress free!