WILLS
Each person's personal and financial situation is different, so there are no "set" answers on how to make out your Will. It is always best for us to meet and discuss your needs and concerns. To prepare for that meeting, I would like to give you some basic information and guidelines. Obviously, this information is general, but it should help get you started.

First, a Will determines how your assets, investments, and personal property will be distributed when you pass away. The Will does not control those items that you own jointly with someone else nor does it control those items for which you have named beneficiaries. Thus, often life insurance and IRAs will not be governed by your Will unless they are payable to your estate. Instead, they will pass to the person or persons you named when you established the insurance or IRA.

POWER OF ATTORNEY
Another important estate planning vehicle is a Power of Attorney. Simply put, this document allows you to name someone (and an alternate) to handle your finances if you become incapacitated. I will need the exact names and addresses of the people you want to handle this task. A recent law change allows you to name someone to "monitor" your agent to be sure that he or she is following your wishes or acting in your best interests.

HEALTH CARE PROXY
If you wish, we can also prepare a Health Care Proxy for you. This document allows you to name someone to make ultimate life and death health care decisions for you if you do not wish to be kept alive artificially. Your Health Care Agent will be authorized to make these decisions for you. I will need the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of your Health Care Agent and alternate.