Another article in Forbes caught my attention recently. The article discusses the death of famous newsman, Mike Wallace. As you may know, Mike Wallace suffered from depression. His son, Chris Wallace, has also discussed his father’s dementia. Read the article here.
The article shares a scary statistic: approximately one in eight baby boomers over age 65 will get Alzheimer’s.
If you see a parent or family member starting to show signs of dementia, here are a few legal documents that will help you get prepared legally:
General Power of Attorney: This document names an agent to help with banking, legal transactions, etc.
Medical Power of Attorney: This document is narrowly tailored to give an agent the authority to select among treatment options at the hospital.
Physician’s Directive (or “Advance Directives” or “Living Will”): If a hospital patient suffers from a terminal condition, he/she can choose to die comfortably instead of prolonging medical treatment.
Last Will and Testament: Although your loved one may live for many years after the onset of dementia, it’s always a good idea to make your Will with an Wills attorney while the mind is still sharp. The last thing you want is to open up the possibility of a Will contest or Will challenge in probate court.
If the dementia progresses to a point of legal mental incapacity, the person will no longer be able to legally alter estate planning documents or make other important decisions. That’s why it’s best to have the person set out his/her wishes while it’s still possible.
Even though the general public knows how crucial these documents are, people tend to put them off because they think they’re too expensive or too much hassle. However, these basic documents are probably cheaper than you think. If you notice the signs of dementia, it’s probably time to stop putting off getting in touch with a lawyer to get help.
My law office offers all the basic documents discussed above (and more) in an inexpensive, all-inclusive package. It’s easy and affordable to have a licensed Texas lawyer prepare these documents and make sure that they’re executed properly.
Visit www.ShuttLawFirm.com for more information on Texas durable general power of attorney, medical power of attorney, a Living Will, Texas Declaration of Guardian, preparing for Dementia in Texas, contact Richardson, Texas lawyer Isaac Shutt at ishutt@shuttlawfirm.com.
Shutt Law Firm’s office is conveniently located just north of Dallas, TX, near the intersection of highway 75 and Campbell Road in Richardson, TX.
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You can also call Mr. Shutt at (214) 302-8197 for more information on the topic discussed in this article or to discuss a different legal matter. For existing clients, quick phone-calls and brief e-mails are always free at Shutt Law Firm PLLC. Please consider the Shutt Law Firm if you’re assisting an elderly parent or looking for a power of attorney or wills lawyer in Dallas, Richardson, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Garland, Addison, TX or surrounding North Texas area.
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DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this brief article constitutes legal advice. The information provided herein is merely provided in the spirit of education. If you have a legal question, you should consult an attorney for your specific legal situation. Further, nothing in this article shall be construed to have started an attorney-client relationship. No such relationship exists until both you and attorney Isaac Shutt sign an engagement letter with the Shutt Law Firm, PLLC.
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