ESTATES - POWER OF ATTORNEY A power of attorney is a legal document you use to give someone else the authority to make decisions on your behalf in the case that you are unable to make those decisions for yourself. Who would you want to make decisions for you if you could not make them for yourself? This is not something to consider lightly. With careful planning on your part, you can help assure that decisions made for you by another person are in line with your own values and interests. You even get to chose how much power you wish to give, and for how long and under what circumstances. A time might come when you are not able to make decisions for yourself. You will want a trusted individual to act on your behalf, but you'll also want to establish some guidelines and even restrictions as to how that person may make decisions for you. You'll want to pick someone you trust - a spouse or good friend or family member. Your representative can pay bills, handle your taxes, your investments and handle any other business matters you would normally take care of yourself. You direct them to act as you wish, and you can also direct them to not act in certain respects. It's not just about financial matters, though. A Power of Attorney also authorizes your "agent" to make medical and health decisions for you when you cannot make them for yourself. Maybe you want to be treated in a specific facility or with a particular treatment. All of your wishes can be expressed in a Power of Attorney, and you get to revoke it at any time as long as you are competent. Without the POA, the court gets to decide who makes your decisions for you, and even then that person must answer to the court for any and all decisions and actions on your behalf. Do you want to leave important decisions about your life to those who barely know you? We can provide the legal services to help you draft your Power of Attorney. We know your rights and we know the importance of establishing a plan for your care in the case that you cannot make your own decisions. Do not leave the most important decisions up in the air. Call us today to set up a consultation for your Power of Attorney. DIVORCE - MEDIATION Mediation is an option for settling family law disputes in a divorce such as equitable distribution, child support or custody. The mediator facilitates the discussion and resolution of all issues of the divorce. Instead of taking the part of one side, the mediator serves as a neutral party that addresses issues and guides a couple in making decisions. Learn more about divorce mediation...