It will be August shortly and if you have children or grandchildren they will be heading back to school or off to college. Now is the time to take the necessary legal steps to make sure that they are protected in case of an emergency.
As Michigan estate planning attorneys, we can help you. Here are some tips:
- For minor children (under the age of 18), make sure that ALL of the people who take care of your children-including grandparents, babysitters, older siblings, neighbors, family friends, etc- have your up-to-date contact information, including changes to your cell phone numbers. Don't forget the emergency contact list on your fridge or bulletin board.
- For minor children it is also important that the appropriate people have the ability to make decisions about your child (e.g. in a medical emergency) if you can't be reached or are out of town. This is done by having a Michigan estate planning attorney draft the appropriate legal documents.
- For young adult children (over the age of 18), make sure that he or she has executed the necessary health care power of attorney, financial power of attorney, and HIPAA authorization that is prepared by a Michigan estate planning lawyer. This is important, especially if they are off to college, because your "children" are now legally an adult in Michigan now, and you do not have the power or access to their medical information any more.
Speak with your Michigan estate planning attorney who focuses on estate planning for parents to make sure your children are protected.
Christopher J. Berry, Esq., A Bloomfield Hills Trusts and Wills Attorney, is a Partner with The Law Offices of Witzke Berry PLLC, which practices in the areas of Estate Planning, Trusts and Estates, and Michigan Probate Litigation..
