The Gift of Planning for Incapacity

Written By Kevin McKernan

The legal documents you should create before incapacity to designate who will assist you are: 

  1. A health care power of attorney 

  2. A durable power of attorney 

  3. A HIPAA authorization 

Here are some practical steps: 

  • Work with a financial planner to make sure you have resources and a plan to pay for care to avoid having a spouse or family member bear responsibility for you. 

  • If you do not have the resources to self-insure, discuss with an attorney if Medicaid planning or other steps are advisable. 

  • Introduce the person you have designated to make your financial decisions to your trusted advisors and attorneys, especially the person(s) you designate as your agent(s) in the Power of Attorney, Health Care Proxy and HIPPA. 

  • Take steps to simplify your finances and consolidate accounts if practical. 

  • Set up safeguards for yourself… 

    • Provide copies of documents to those that will make decisions for you. 

This document is designed for general information only. The information presented in this document should not be construed to be formal legal or tax advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship. 

For more information on this and other topics, please contact Kevin via any of the channels listed below:

📧 kevin@kmckernan.com  | 📞 718-317-5007

Kevin McKernan
Previous

New Requirements for New York Employers Effective this Summer
Next

Law Update: Essential Items on Your July To-Do List