Wheaton Power of Attorney Law Firm

Lawyers Helping Create Powers of Attorney for Healthcare and Finances in Glen Ellyn and DuPage County

When you begin the estate planning process, you may focus mostly on what will happen after you die. By creating a will or a trust, you will make decisions about how you want your property to be passed to your heirs once you are gone. However, you will also want to consider your own needs before you reach the end of your life, as well as your wishes regarding your healthcare and finances. Fortunately, you can address how matters should be handled if you become ill or if something should happen that would make it impossible for you to make decisions for yourself. By creating powers of attorney, you can set down your wishes for what you want to happen and make sure your instructions will be followed.

At NN Legal Group, our estate planning attorneys have the knowledge and experience to help you address any issues that affect you and your family. We will work with you to determine how to use the tools available to provide you with the assurance that your wishes will be followed, both before and after your death. Attorney Nicolas Nelson has been working with individuals and families for more than 12 years to address their legal needs, and he will provide you with the advice and guidance you need to make informed decisions about your future.

Two Types of Powers of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal agreement in which you will name a person, such as a close friend or family member, who will be authorized to make certain decisions on your behalf. While you can make a power of attorney at any time, and an agreement can take effect immediately or only be valid for a certain amount of time, many powers of attorney are "durable," meaning that they will go into effect if you become incapacitated and cannot make decisions on your own.

The person who creates a power of attorney is known as the "principal," and the person who is given authority to act on their behalf is known as their "agent." An agent is required to act in the principal's best interests and make decisions based on what they believe the principal would want. Illinois law specifies two different types of power of attorney agreements:

• Power of Attorney for Health Care - In this type of agreement, you will give your agent the ability to make decisions about the medical care you will receive. They will usually be able to access your medical records, accept or decline different forms of medical treatment, and have you admitted to or discharged from a hospital, mental health facility, rehabilitation center, or nursing home. You may choose to give them full authority to make all necessary decisions, including those involving life-or-death matters, or you may limit their authority to only certain types of decisions while providing specific instructions about the types of treatment you do and do not want to receive.
• Power of Attorney for Property or Finances - This type of agreement will give your agent the authority to manage your financial affairs and make decisions about your money and property. These decisions may include various types of transactions involving bank accounts, real estate property, stocks and bonds, retirement plans, insurance policies, or Social Security, as well as filing and paying taxes, managing business operations, participating in litigation, and making payments to meet financial obligations. You can exclude certain types of transactions or financial matters if necessary, or you can provide instructions for how specific financial issues should be addressed while you are incapacitated.

Contact a Glendale Heights Power of Attorney Lawyer

Whether you have health conditions that may affect you in the future, or you simply want to make plans for how matters should be handled in an emergency situation, powers of attorney can ensure that your wishes will be carried out correctly. NN Legal Group can explain your options for creating these agreements, and we will advise you on what terms should be included to protect your rights while giving your agent the authority to provide for your needs. Contact our office today at 630-474-0925 to set up a complimentary consultation with our attorneys. We provide legal help with estate planning and other matters in Glen Ellyn, Bloomingdale, Villa Park, Addison, Wheaton, Carol Stream, Lombard, Glendale Heights, and DuPage County. Hablamos Español.