Shutt Law Firm’s Wills PLUS Planning Package is a flat-rate bundle of all the standard estate planning documents and includes a Last Will & Testament, a financial power of attorney, a living will, and many others. We designed the Wills PLUS Planning Package to be convenient and essentially all-inclusive.
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The Wills PLUS Planning Package includes important documents such as: a Texas Will, a Texas Durable General Power of Attorney, a Texas Medical Power of Attorney, a Declaration of Guardian, HIPAA Authorization, a “Living Will” (Texas Advance Directive to Physicians), Appointment of Agent for Disposition of Remains, and an Anatomical Gift form (if desired).
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What’s included in Shutt Law Firm’s Wills PLUS Planning Package:.
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Texas Last Will and Testament
The cornerstone of many Texas Estate Plans, A Texas Will names who you’d like to serve as executor of your estate, describes where you’d like your property to go when you die (ie, names beneficiaries, how you’d like your debts (including inheritance tax or estate tax) to be paid, names guardians for minor children (if applicable) and may even create a trust. Shutt Law Firm provides clients valid Texas wills that are “self-proved”, which means that the will contains a special provision that does away with the need for witnesses to appear in probate court after the client dies. In other words, Shutt Law Firm’s wills are designed to glide through probate court.
Durable General Power of Attorney
A power of attorney is a document that gives someone you trust the ability to make financial and legal transactions on your behalf. A power of attorney is “durable” when it remains in effect even if you have been declared incapacitated. This document is helpful when you want to give someone the authority to, for example, pay your bills or make transactions for you if you are unable in the future. Many people think of the Durable General Power of Attorney as the “financial power of attorney.”
Declaration of Guardian
A guardian is a person who has the legal ability and responsibility to take care of another person (a “ward”). A legal guardian has much the same rights a parent has over a minor child. In Texas, if you become severely incapacitated at some point in life, the Probate Court may institute a guardianship so that you’ll have a guardian to make decisions on your behalf (where you’ll live, etc.). A Declaration of Guardian gives you the power to tell the court your preferences on who you’d like to be your guardian well before the need arises.
Living Will / Advance Directives
A Living Will in Texas (often called an Advance Physicians Directive or Advance Directive) tells your doctor and hospital what kind of medical treatment you want in the event you are very ill and likely to die soon. The Living Will relieves stress for family members who may not feel comfortable making decisions about your medical treatment when, for example, the doctor thinks you are suffering from a terminal condition.
HIPAA Authorization
The Federal government created a law called the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”). Part of HIPAA is a restriction on which individuals hospitals can give patients’ medical information to. Essentially, the hospital can only give your medical information to the people you specifically authorize. The HIPAA Authorization is an approved way of giving the hospital the ability to share your medical records with the people you designate.
Medical Power of Attorney
A medical power of attorney is a document in which you (the “principal”) name someone you trust (your “agent” or “attorney-in-fact”) to make medical decisions on your behalf should you become unable to make medical decisions in the future. For example, if you are seriously ill and the doctors want to know which surgery you want, you may be unconscious and unable to speak with doctors. In this situation, your medical agent would be able to tell the doctors which surgery you’d want.
Appointment of Agent for Disposition of Remains
The Texas Appointment of Agent for Disposition of Remains is the legal document that gives you the power to designate a “point person” to make decisions with your funeral director.
Anatomical Gifts / Organ Donor Form
Many clients wish to donate organs but want a say in which organs can be donated and a say in who will receive the organs. If the client wants to make such elections, the client should complete the organ donor form as a part of the estate plan and keep the form in a safe place with the other important estate planning documents.
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The Wills PLUS Planning Package Process:
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LET’S GET STARTED. . .
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Getting your Texas Will and other important estate planning documents is probably more simple than you think. Shutt Law Firm offers all these documents in one, all-inclusive package. Call (214) 302-8197 or E-Mail ishutt@shuttlawfirm.com.
Getting your Texas Will and other important estate planning documents is probably more simple than you think. Shutt Law Firm offers all these documents in one, all-inclusive package. Call (214) 302-8197 or E-Mail ishutt@shuttlawfirm.com.