Ancillary Documents
Ancillary Documents support your estate planning by providing for incapacity and situations not covered by your will or trust. You may only need one or two documents, or we can add all six on to a will or trust as a package.
Click the titles below to expand and learn more about what each document does.
Durable Power of Attorney
Durable Power of Attorney or (“Financial Power of Attorney”) is a document that appoints someone you trust (your agent) to handle your financial matters if you become incapacitated.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Healthcare Power of Attorney (also known as a Medical Power of Attorney or Healthcare Proxy) is a document that designates someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so.
Advanced Directive to Physician
Advanced Directive to Physician (also known as a “Living Will”) is a document that outlines your preferences for end-of-life care, such as whether you want life-sustaining treatment.
HIPAA Release
HIPAA Release is a document that authorizes hospitals and other medical professionals to communicate and share your medical records with the people you designate. The HIPAA Release is effective for up to two years after your death, allowing those named to obtain your medical records for insurance, litigation, or other purposes.
Declaration of Guardian in the Event of Incapacity
Declaration of Guardian in the Event of Incapacity (also known as Declaration of Guardian) allows you to nominate who you would want as your guardian in the event one must be appointed for you. This document also allows you to disqualify anyone you would not want appointed, and the court is barred from appointing them.
Appointment of Agent for Disposition of Remains
Appointment of Agent for Disposition of Remains is a relatively new addition to estate planning, this document gives an agent of your choice the legal authority to tell a hospital and/or funeral home what to do with your remains. This avoids conflict when burial or cremation arrangements have not been made in advance, and there may be a dispute amongst family members on what arrangements to make.
