I understand that receiving a serious or terminal illness diagnosis is a stressful and scary situation. Amidst the emotional turmoil, it's essential to prioritize your affairs and ensure that your wishes are documented and legally protected. I strive to provide compassionate and comprehensive estate planning services tailored to the unique needs of individuals facing a serious illness in the Troy, Michigan and surrounding communities.

Comprehensive Estate Planning

Regardless of your health status, estate planning is a crucial step in getting your affairs in order, protecting yourself and providing for your loved ones. I offer a range of estate planning services, including:

• Wills and Trusts: Establishing a plan for the distribution of your assets and property according to your wishes.
• Advance Directives: Drafting documents such as living wills and healthcare proxies to outline your medical preferences and appoint trusted individuals to make decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated.
• Power of Attorney: Designating someone to manage your financial affairs if you are unable to do so due to illness.

Special Considerations for Those with a Serious Illness

When facing a serious or terminal illness, there are specific estate planning considerations to address:

• Medical Decision Making: Ensuring that your healthcare directives are up-to-date and reflect your current wishes regarding medical treatment and, if you need it, end-of-life care.
• Beneficiary Designations: Reviewing and updating beneficiary designations on accounts such as life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and bank accounts.
• Accommodating the Situation: Sometimes it's best to get a basic plan in place so that you can get back to focusing on your health. When you recover, you can make a more comprehensive plan if need be.
• Time if of the essence: There is a sense of urgency in creating an estate plan when facing a serious terminal illness, so I strive to meet with my clients as soon as possible and complete the plan quickly.

Facing a serious illness can be overwhelming, but you don't have to navigate it alone. As an experienced estate planning attorney in Troy, Michigan, I am committed to providing compassionate legal guidance and support throughout the estate planning process.

I have been called in when people have been in the final few days of their lives or on their death beds when, due to the decline in their health, they lack the legal capacity to make or sign an estate plan. Last minute planning makes a difficult situation stressful. Also, the plan is not as likely to work due to capacity issues and lack of time to implement the estate plan after it is signed. As such, if you have been diagnosed with a serious illness or are facing a terminal illness, don't wait until it's too late to put a plan in place. Call Oakland County estate planning attorney Andrew Byers today at (248) 469-4261.