Your Estate Plan Communicates For You If You Lose Your Ability To Communicate

Your estate plan can speak for you and your wishes if or when you can’t.

What would happen if you were to suffer severe cognitive or physical decline, lose your independence, your voice, control over your life? You just never know when you go for your next physical exam or check-up what the doctor might find.

Far too often many a dire diagnosis is brought to light during routine annual physical check-ups. Sometimes these diagnoses are indicative of impending cognitive and/or physical decline. What happens when you are no longer able to communicate?

When you can’t say what you want, your estate plan can fill the gap.

It’s easy to ask someone not to panic when they receive this kind of news. But that rarely works. People tend to panic. Of course, second opinions ought to be sought. Maybe even third opinions.

But one thing that does not require a second opinion is the creation of your estate plan.

Once a diagnosis that could mean cognitive or physical decline is made, whether it ever happens or not is not something you want to test when it comes to making sure you are cared for the way you want to be cared for.

When procrastination is no longer an option…

Most people procrastinate about creating estate plans. Estate plans are not just for the distribution of wealth or assets upon death. They are also legal instruments through which you communicate the kind of care you want to received should you lose the ability to communicate for yourself. You provide specific instructions, detailing your expectations and instructions. You assign the roles of Powers of Attorney for your health care and for your finances to someone you trust implicitly to make sure your wishes are carried out.

I urge anyone who has been given a recent diagnosis and is still thinking clearly to get busy making sure your wishes are made clear before you are no longer able to communicate your desires and expectations. Once cognitive or physical decline sets in, the legality of documents can be questioned and even rendered null and void.

If You’re 18 Or Over With Assets Make Sure You Maintain Your Voice And Control

You certainly do not have to wait until you have a diagnosis. In fact, creating an estate plan is a good idea for anyone 18 and older to do. Everyone wants to have a voice in their life even if that actual voice is no longer within one’s physical or mental control. Most young adults have assets which include a car, savings account, perhaps a trust, and more. Digital assets can be extraordinarily valuable including NFTs (non-fungible tokens), cryptocurrency, music, art and more.

Whether or not you have a diagnosis that could lead to cognitive or physical decline, if you want to discuss the creation of your estate plan, give my office a call at 404-370-0696.

The peace of mind having this document created and at the ready cannot be overestimated. It is a feeling everyone should experience. Give us a call and let’s make sure if something ever happens to you where you no longer have a voice, your wishes will be communicated through your estate plan.

Looking to find an experienced estate lawyer in the Georgia area who is skilled in asset protection and estate plan preparation? Shannon Pawley is an attorney in Georgia with expertise in estate planning and asset protection. Shannon can provide assistance with creating an estate plan to include making a will and how to establish a trust properly. If you have questions about asset protection or questions about making an estate plan, reach out to Shannon and she will be glad to help answer all the estate planning questions you might have!