Attorney For Advance Directives, Powers Of Attorney And Estate Planning In Downers Grove

What Is A Power Of Attorney?

If you are concerned that you may ever become incapacitated and unable to make decisions for yourself, you can create a legal agreement naming someone who is authorized to make decisions for you. Creating a power of attorney will name an “agent” who can make decisions on your behalf. This type of legal agreement can be broad and open-ended, giving your agent the authority to make any decisions they believe would be in your best interests, or it can be specific, only allowing your agent to make certain decisions in certain areas. In many cases, a power of attorney will be “durable,” meaning the agreement will remain in effect if you are considered incapacitated. There are two separate types of powers of attorney that can address different aspects of your life:

• Medical care – A power of attorney for healthcare will give your agent the authority to decide which medical treatments you should or should not receive, including surgery, medications, or life-sustaining methods such as breathing machines or feeding tubes. They may also be allowed to access your medical records, speak to doctors about your care, and make decisions about whether you will be admitted to or discharged from hospitals, nursing homes, or mental health facilities. By discussing your wishes with your agent before creating a health care power of attorney, you can ensure they make the right decisions about whether to prolong your life as much as possible or provide you with treatment that addresses your comfort and quality of life.
• Financial matters – A power of attorney for property will give your agent the authority to manage your finances and assets. This may include making financial transactions or decisions involving real estate, stocks and bonds, insurance plans, Social Security, taxes, business interests, or any other aspects of the property you own or the financial obligations you must meet.

Powers of attorney will allow you to place someone you trust in control of the important decisions in your life, and you can provide them with instructions on what you do or do not want them to do. These types of agreements can also be beneficial for those who have special needs, since by using a power of attorney, a person and their caretaker(s) can avoid the need for guardianship and court oversight over the decisions made on their behalf.

Contact Our Downers Grove Estate Planning Lawyers

If you want to make sure the right decisions will be made for you in the event you cannot make decisions for yourself, the attorneys of SBK Law Group can help you create a power of attorney agreement that meets your needs. To learn more about how we can assist in developing your estate plan, contact our Downers Grove estate planning lawyers online or by calling 630-427-4407. We serve clients in DuPage County, Kane County, Kendall County, Will County, and Cook County.