Phinney Estate Law offers disability planning as part of a comprehensive estate plan or as a stand alone service. A disability plan is different than an end of life plan in that it includes a plan for managing finances during disability in addition to plans regarding health care decisions.  A disability plan is different than a full estate plan in that it does not address who will get your property or fulfill other family obligations after your death.  The following section will give you some basic information on the sort of issues are faced in creating an end of life plan and some tools to get started. 

As always, the information on this site is offered as an educational community service.  It does not create an attorney client relationship with Phinney Estate Law and is not intended as a substitute for individual legal counsel. 

1. ✦ Fewer than 10% of us will die a sudden death from something like a car accident or unexpected heart attack. The rest of us will die from a protracted life-threatening illness.  For some of us, this will be a disease, such as aggressive cancer, with a relatively short terminal phase.  For others of us, it will be disease or disorder that involves a a slow decline punctuated by periodic crises, such as emphysema, heart attack, or Alzheimer’s. Whether there is a short stage or slow decline, there will almost always be times that either symptoms or treatment will render us unable to make or communicate our health care choices and or manage our own finances.  There may also be periods of time that we cannot properly care for our minor children or pets.  That means that for most of us planning for disability is really planning for a likely eventuality, not an unlikely one. 
   

1. ✦ A Gallup study in 1996 found that 90% of Americans want to die in their own home, just over 20% actually do so.  Most people who use hospice care receive services for only the last 1-2 weeks of their lives even though they could have been receiving services for an average of 6 months.  While is some circumstances this may be the result of late diagnosis or other exceptional circumstances but for most this is the result of a failure to plan or communicate their wishes.
   

1. ✦ The fear that they will not know or be able to handle their parents’ disability or that fights among family members about decisions that need is the number one concern that adult children share with us about their parents’ estates.  Concern about these issues greatly outweighs concerns about actual inheritances.   We have never had an adult child complain that they have too much direction from their parents.  These concerns are heightened when the end of life approaches
   

This is an area of planning that is likely to be used, needed to makes sure your wishes are followed, and a real gift to your family.

This site can provide you with more information to learn about your planning options and to start your decision making process:

Most Frequent Health Care Choices To Be Made

Selecting A Health Care Agent

Documenting Your Selection of Health Care Agent

FAQ: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care

Advance Health Care Directive Exercise #1

Advance Health Care Directive Exercise #2

Advance Health Care Directive Exercise #3

Call or email now for a free half hour consultation to see if our services are right for you.  Tel. 206.459.1908 or phinneyestatelaw@mac.com. Or attend one of our free classes.