Staying Legally Prepared: A Simple and Effective Approach

The sudden onset of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the world in unimaginable ways. While the most significant suggestion is to have a plan for your health and safety, the CDC recommends having a plan if you become ill.  This means planning for what happens if you are admitted to a hospital, quarantined at home, confined to a nursing facility, or can no longer conduct business for yourself.  Here are basic powerful documents everyone should have and, like washing your hands, they are simple and effective:

Financial Power of Attorney – Allows you to appoint an Agent to make financial decisions if you’re incapacitated or otherwise unable to make decisions. This document is generally effective immediately, however, you can choose to execute a Springing Power of Attorney to become effective only upon your incapacity.  Having this basic estate planning document in place will avoid the expense of a court appointed Guardianship proceeding if you become incapacitated.

Health Care Power of Attorney– The Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to appoint an Agent to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to make decisions for yourself.

If you have any questions, the experienced team of Estates & Trusts attorneys at Leech Tishman are here to provide insight on your unique situation and to implement effective powers of attorney and estate plans in short order.

Leech Tishman’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group is engaged in the development of practical, effective estate planning and business succession planning for individuals, families, businesses, non-profit organizations, and private foundations.

If you have any questions regarding estate & trusts matters, please contact David J. DelFiandra. David is a Partner and Chair of the firm’s Estates & Trusts Practice Group. He is also a member of the Taxation  Group. David is based in the Pittsburgh office and is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Florida and West Virginia. He can be reached at 412.261.1600 or ddelfiandra@leechtishman.com. 

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Leech Tishman Fuscaldo & Lampl is a full-service law firm dedicated to assisting individuals, businesses, and institutions. Leech Tishman offers legal services in alternative dispute resolution, aviation & aerospace, bankruptcy & creditors’ rights, construction, corporate, employee benefits, employment, energy, environmental, estates & trusts, family law, government relations, immigration, insurance coverage & corporate risk mitigation, intellectual property, internal investigations, international legal matters, litigation, real estate, and taxation. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, Leech Tishman also has offices in El Segundo, CA, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Sarasota and Wilmington, DE.