These documents all involved something we do not like to think about and yet they also help implement some of the most important decisions of our lives. 

Wills allow the items we have accumulated over time to go to the right people.  Living Wills explain the decisions that we have made for ourselves regarding end of life issues.  A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care allows others to implement our decisions and to make health care decisions for us, such a whether to reside in assisted living or to have home health care.  A Power of Attorney gives someone the right, right now, to manage or handle our financial affairs.

All of these items require some thought before you enter into them.  You need to know who you trust to do what, and it does not always have to be a family member.  The person or persons you pick need to be someone that is willing to honor your decisions, even if they do not agree with you, because the power you are giving them is so broad.

Who needs these documents?  Frankly, everyone.  Even if you don't have many assets or even if you have taken care to have every account payable on death or set up as joint survivorship, you could come into money (say you finally do win the lottery) or your death could be the result of a tragic accident (a wrongful death claim), and then we need to look to the will to determine how that will be distributed.

You could have surgery and have a brief period of time where you are not able to make or implement your health care decisions, and through these documents, you are able to have someone go check out the rehab facility, talk to your insurance company and in general take care of things for you that you would normally do.

You may be unable to get to the bank while recovering, and need someone to go to withdraw funds for you or to modify your investments.  A Power of Attorney will permit someone to do that for you.

These are documents that we often put off, but the best way to figure out what is needed is to discuss these issues with an attorney.

Legal advice can only come from an attorney who is familiar with the area of law and familiar with your particular situation.  A number of attorneys, including me, do not charge for the initial consultation.  The information contained here is not legal advice, and is provided just to make you aware that you do have options.  Please consult with an experienced attorney before making these significant, potentiall life-changing decisions.  

Do you need to contact an attorney?

Everything here is just legal information and not legal advice.  You should treat it as such.  You should consult with a lawyer before applying this information to a specific situation.  Of course, I hope that you will contact me, which you can do so by calling me at 216-780-0105 or emailing me by clicking here.

A word of warning (or, actually, many words of warning):

All of this information has been provided just to make you aware of the various options under Ohio law.  This is legal information,  not legal advice.  An attorney-client relationship is not established just because you are reading this or even just because you contact me.  Also, I am not responsible for content of material you may find by following the links not am I endorsing those sites since I do not control those other websites.  I am providing these links just to give you access to more information.  Do not send me confidential information until an attorney client relationship is established.  When you contact me, we can set up a time to talk more in depth, at which point your information will be confidential.