Life Lines: Documents to Protect You and Your Family in Times of Trouble articles

Recent articles from Life Lines: Documents to Protect You and Your Family in Times of Trouble

Introduction.
January 1, 2003... This packet contains information and sample forms regarding essential estate planning documents that everyone should have in place. Although these issues may be difficult to talk about, it is important for all people--and particularly lesbian,...

I. Wills & trusts.
January 1, 2003... A. Wills A will is a legal document that allows you to designate who will receive your property when you die, and how and when they will receive it. If you die without a will, your property will be distributed to your legal heirs. This is...

II. Documents protecting choices of medical care.
January 1, 2003... In the event you are seriously injured or incapacitated, you may be unable to make medical decisions about your care. In most states, in the absence of written directions, health care professionals will turn to your blood relatives to make...

III. Autopsy and disposition of remains.
January 1, 2003... In the absence of written instructions, nearly every state gives your blood relatives the right to control the disposition of your body, including funeral arrangements, upon your death. The only current exception is for civil union spouses in...

IV. Hospital visitation authorization.
January 1, 2003... A hospital visitation authorization allows you to name individuals who are not related by blood or marriage who you would like to be able to visit you in the hospital, in the event you are no longer able to communicate this yourself. While...

V. Durable power of attorney for finances.
January 1, 2003... A durable power of attorney for finances allows you to designate a person, your "agent," to take care of your finances if you are unable to do so yourself. A general power of attorney for finances authorizes your designated agent to control a...

VI. Authorization for consent to medical treatment of minor.
January 1, 2003... An authorization for consent to medical treatment of a minor allows someone other than a child's legal parents to authorize a doctor or other health care professional to provide medical services to your minor child. Especially in states that do...

VII. Nomination of guardian for a minor.
January 1, 2003... A nomination of a guardian or conservator assigns the care and custody of a child to another responsible adult in the event that the child's legal parent dies or becomes physically or psychologically unable to care for the child. Usually, a...

Appendix A: autopsy and disposition of remains.
January 1, 2003... AUTOPSY AND DISPOSITION OF MY REMAINS I, --, hereby nominate -- to be my agent for purposes of directing an autopsy and controlling the disposition of my remains. I understand that my agent will be able to authorize an autopsy (an...

Appendix B: hospital visitation authorization.
January 1, 2003... HOSPITAL VISITATION AUTHORIZATION I, --, a resident of -- County, State of --, do hereby give notice and authorize that, if any injury or illness, or any incapacity through any other cause necessitates my hospitalization or treatment in a...

Appendix C: durable power of attorney for finances.
January 1, 2003... DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR FINANCES Recording requested by and when recorded mail to: -- Warning to Person Executing This Document This is an important document. It creates a durable power of attorney. Before executing this...

Appendix D: authorization for consent to medical treatment of minor.
January 1, 2003... AUTHORIZATION FOR CONSENT TO MEDICAL TREATMENT OF MINOR I, -- being the parent entitled to the legal and physical custody of my minor child --, born --, do hereby authorize --, into whose care the child has been entrusted, to consent to...

Appendix E: nomination of guardian for a minor.
January 1, 2003... NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN FOR A MINOR I, --, the legal parent of the minor child -- who was born on --, am hereby declaring my wishes as to those individuals to be appointed the legal guardian of the person and property of my (daughter/son) in...