Clear guides to Washington law, legal aid, and your rights
Posts tagged with estate planning
A healthcare power of attorney names someone to make medical decisions for you. An advance directive records your own treatment instructions. They answer different questions and work best together. Here is how each one works.
Getting a power of attorney does not require a lawyer or a long process. It requires doing it while you still can. Here is how to choose the right type, pick your agent, prepare the document, and execute it correctly.
A financial power of attorney authorizes someone you choose to manage your finances if you cannot. Here is what it covers, which powers require specific authorization, and how to create one that holds up.
The type of power of attorney you create determines when your agent can act and whether the document survives the situation it was made for. Here is how durable, limited, and springing POAs differ and which combination most people need.
A healthcare directive records your medical treatment instructions before a crisis and designates someone to make decisions if you cannot. Here is what it covers, when it takes effect, and why every adult needs one.
A pour-over will is a safety net for your living trust. It catches assets you forgot to transfer into the trust and directs them there at death. Here is how it works and why you still need one even with a fully funded trust.
A will and a living trust both transfer your assets when you die, but they take different routes. Whether the extra work of a trust is worth it depends on what you own and where you live.
A living trust holds your assets during your lifetime and transfers them to your beneficiaries when you die, without going through probate. Here is how they work, what they cover, and when one makes sense.
