Do you need help?
You may want to attend the 2nd Annual Family Caregiver Conference in Boise, “The Journey of Caregiving” on January 26, 2013, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boise State University. To register go to the website of “Friends in Action” [www.fiaboise.org].
We, at Senior Edge Legal, are proud to be one of the sponsors for this event. We are providing a handout for all attendees to highlight legal issues that are of concern.
Legal Issues for Family Caregivers
There are two phases of legal planning for caregiver: how to protect the independence, assets and family of the person needing care in the good days and during the time of needing help due to mental or physical incapacity. The best planning provides maximum personal independence, protection of assets and protection of other family members.
The following are some legal techniques that help accomplish planning goals.
Phase One: The Good Days (or mostly good days). This phase assumes that the person creating a plan is competent. That means they are mentally and physically able to contract.
• Sign a Financial Power of Attorney. This gives the persons listed the right to do modest financial business on behalf of the person who signs the documents.
• Sign a Health Power of Attorney and Living Will. This document provides for the persons who can make health decisions with the treating health professionals, and also allows for an election of the type of care to be provided when death is near.
• Sign a Last Will and Testament. This document will indicate who is in charge of the finances after death and who is to receive the decedent’s property.
• If a caregiver spouse or the person being cared for is a Veteran, contact the Veteran’s administration or an attorney accredited with the Veteran’s Administration to see what benefits are available to help pay for caregivers.
If one of the planning goals includes protecting assets for the person being cared for, as well as their spouse or the family, there are more complex legal plans that can help.
• Have the individual requiring care sign a revocable trust, providing for others to manage finances and make health decisions. This trust also covers who is to receive that individual’s assets when they die.
• For a married person, often the healthy, caregiver spouse, can sign a Last Will and Testament, that provides if the healthy spouse dies first, the deceased spouse’s share of the family assets will be set aside for the benefit of the ill spouse, in a manner that provides continued support but will not interfere with the ability to receive government benefits.
• Single and married people can protect substantial assets if they have the ability to pay their expenses for at least five years.
Phase Two: The Bad Days – Incompetency. At this time the individual being cared for lacks the mental or physical capacity to contract and, therefore, cannot sign legal documents.
• It may be possible for the incompetent person’s agents on the financial power of attorney and health power of attorney and the Trustee of a revocable trust to work with those documents without the need for a court order.
• If there is no financial power of attorney and no health power of attorney, it may be necessary to file papers in the local Court to ask that someone be appointed as Conservator and Guardian for the incapacited person in order to give someone the legal right to make financial and health decisions for the vulnerable person. The Conservator makes financial decisions, and the Guardian makes the health and housing decisions. The Conservator and Guardian are often the same person. It is necessary to use an attorney to help with this process.
• The caregiver needs to consider how to pay for the care required.
Where to find help?
Go to the website for Susan Graham’s law office, Senior Edge Legal www.senioredgelegal.com, and down load free legal forms for:
An Enhanced Durable Financial Power of Attorney
An Enhanced Living Will and Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care
Instructions for a Holographic (handwritten) Last Will and Testament
Idaho Legal Aid 208-345-0106,
The Veteran’s Administration 1-208-577-2300,
Call Senior Edge Legal to make an appointment. Prior to setting an appointment, you will be asked a few questions to determine if we are the right law office to help.
