Morris Hall, PLLC

Estate Planning Attorneys

MakePayment with multiple options
CALL NOW: 1 (888) 222-1328
  • Home
  • Our Firm
    • About Morris Hall
    • Attorneys
    • Our Team
    • Morris Hall Core Values
    • Communities We Serve
      • Carefree
      • Chandler
      • Flagstaff
      • Mesa
      • Oro Valley
      • Phoenix
      • Prescott
      • Scottsdale
      • Sedona
      • Tucson
    • Career Opportunities
  • Estate Planning Services
    • Advanced Estate Planning
    • Asset Protection
    • Power of Attorney
    • Trust Administration and Probate
    • Wills and Trusts
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Do I Need an Estate Plan?
    • Elder Law Reports
    • Elder Law Resources
      • Phoenix Elder Law
      • Tucson Elder Law
    • Estate Planning Problems
    • FAQs
    • Probate Resources
      • Probate
      • Flagstaff Probate
      • Phoenix Probate
      • Sedona Probate
      • Tucson Probate
    • Published Books
      • Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing home
      • Tax Free Money for Long-Term Care!
    • Recent Law Changes and Improvements Affecting Arizona
      • Update My Living Trust
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • What to Do When Death Occurs
      • What Not To Do When Someone Dies
      • Who To Contact After A Loved Ones Death
  • Reviews
    • Testimonials
    • Review Us
  • Locations
  • Events
    • Seminars / Webinars
    • Past Webinar Recordings
  • Contact
    • Consultation Policy
    • Contact Us
    • Discounts

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan, 9/1/2012

Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan

 Written by the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys
Compliments of Morris Hall

Estate Planning. To many people, it sounds complicated and foreign, something only the wealthy or the elderly need to worry about. It is often not at the top of the priority list for single people or for young couples. Even parents with young children, who know they should at least have a Will, tend to think of estate planning as somehow beyond their reach.

In truth, regardless of your age, your situation in life, or your level of wealth, estate planning accomplishes certain universal goals.

Planning for Illness

What would happen to you or your family if you became very ill – or even if you suffered a debilitating injury – and you couldn’t make your own financial or medical decisions? If you are married, you might assume that your spouse would automatically have the right to step into your shoes and make these decisions for you. However, this is not necessarily the case. If you have accounts on which your spouse is not a joint or authorized user, he or she would likely hit a brick wall when trying to communicate with your financial institutions. The same problems can arise when it comes to talking to doctors or accessing your medical records. If you are not married, your friends or family members would face similar difficulties.

Without the right plan in place, financial and medical institutions require a court order before they will communicate with anyone attempting to make decisions on your behalf. This puts your loved ones in the position of hiring a lawyer and spending time and money in court during an already stressful time in their lives and yours, simply so that they can handle your daily affairs. Add in relatives who disagree over how your affairs should be managed and the trouble compounds.

Whether you are married or single, regardless of your age, you should have a General Durable Power of Attorney, a Health Care Power of Attorney, and a HIPAA authorization.

A General Durable Power of Attorney allows you to name someone to manage your financial affairs in case of your disability. A Health Care Power of Attorney lets you name someone to make medical decisions on your behalf, and a HIPAA authorization lets you direct your physicians and medical facilities to release medical information to certain, specified individuals. These documents work together to keep the details of life running as smoothly as possible for you and your family, without the need for a court order.

Planning for Death

Nobody likes to think about death, but it can happen at any time. If you have not created a plan, the family you leave behind will have to pick up the pieces. The most basic way to plan for death is to create a Will. You use your Will to leave instructions for who gets which of your assets and when, as well as to name a guardian for your minor children.

A Revocable Trust goes a step further, allowing you to distribute your assets while avoiding the time and expense of the probate process. An additional advantage of a Revocable Trust is that, since it is not subject to probate, the terms of your Trust remain private. This is not true of a Will, which is filed in court during probate and becomes a matter of public record.

Estate planning does not have to be complicated, and it is certainly not only for the wealthy or the elderly. Planning your estate is a matter of putting together a few elements that will protect you and your family in case the unexpected happens.

An experienced Morris Hall estate planning attorney can help you put a plan in place that is tailored to your family’s needs.  To schedule a free consultation, contact Morris Hall today at 888.222.1328.

MH logo

Main Office

7600 N 16th St, Ste 105

Phoenix, AZ 85020

Phone: 602-249-1328

Fax: 602-248-2887

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

For a sample Click Here

Offices

Our law firm proudly serves many areas in Arizona. See all of our locations here.

Our law firm proudly serves the state of Arizona.  See all of our locations here.

Toll Free: 888-222-1328

Mon-Thur: 8:00am – 5:00pm
Fri: 8:00am – 4:00pm

  • Linkedin
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Youtube
  • Instagram

Need an Estate Planning Lawyer in Arizona?

Looking for an estate planning attorney near you? We have office locations in Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, West Valley, Carefree, Prescott, Sedona, Flagstaff, Tucson, and Oro Valley in Arizona so please visit us at the location that is closest to you.

  • © 2023 American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc All rights reserved.
  • Disclaimer