Do You Know These Elder Law Terms?

When elder law issues come into your life, you may find yourself unfamiliar with legal terms that relate to estate planning and the complexities of carrying out the wises of a loved one.

An elder law attorney is an essential guide to navigating the waters of this specialized area of law. When you’re faced with elder law needs, we’re here to help you. Contact us a for a complimentary consultation today. We can shed more light on these commonly used terms in elder law.

Advance Directive

An advance directive is a document that allows a person to fully state their wishes for their medical treatment in the event that they become incapacitated and unable to communicate these wishes at a later date.

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney is a legal document in which a person gives permission for another to act on their behalf. There are several types of powers of attorney. A general power of attorney allows the person to do anything the grantor could do. A special power of attorney gives the person the ability to do certain things, such as pay bills, make medical decisions or sell property.

Probate

Probate refers to the process of validating a will and disposing of assets as prescribed in the will. Most locations have special probate courts that are dedicated to this process.

Executor

The executor of an estate is a person that is granted power over all assets in the estate. The executor must act as the deceased person directed in the terms of their will.

Trust

A trust allows for assets to be distributed to beneficiaries at a specific time or for a specific purpose. This allows a person to have more control over the distribution of their assets to their beneficiaries. There are many types of trusts; each trust has its own benefits and drawbacks.

For more information on these terms, or for answers to your questions about elder law and estate planning, contact our offices today. We are your Massachusetts Estate Planning Lawyer, Massachusetts Nursing Home Attorney and Massachusetts Elder Law Attorney. We can answer all of your questions and help you plan for the future, so you don’t have to worry about the division of your assets or those of a loved one.