With a legacy of more than 165 years of service to clients in Dayton, throughout Ohio, and beyond, we understand the importance of time. You should know the right time to create or sell a business, the right time to grow your assets and the right time to decide where those assets should go when you are no longer able to take care of them yourself.
Estate planning is an essential process to care for yourself, your loved ones and the wealth you have built and nurtured over a lifetime. The preparation of advanced directives is a key aspect of any estate plan.
Advanced directives are documents that express your wishes when you are not able to do so yourself. Regardless of the size of your estate, each adult over the age of 18 should have advanced directives in the event of incapacitation caused by injury or illness.
Types of directives to consider in Ohio include:
- Living Will. A living will allows you to make end-of-life decisions now, while you are able. Your living will can be rescinded at any time, and is triggered by the declarations of two physicians that your physical condition has passed beyond medical help and your condition is terminal.
- Health Care Power of Attorney. A health care power of attorney authorizes an individual you trust to direct your care when your condition is palliative. While many people choose a relative, be sure to appoint someone who can carry out your end-of-life wishes during a time of stress and sorrow.
It’s never too soon to think about an estate plan and start preparing documents to help yourself and your loved ones should you fall ill. There is no time like today to take care of tomorrow.
