Estate planning sounds as if it is only for people with a lot of resources, but in fact, every adult over 18 has a reason to consider doing some estate planning, because each of us has an estate worth planning. Why? Because estate planning is not just about giving away valuable assets. It is about deciding who will step in to help you, if you are incapacitated. It is about making sure your bills get paid. It is about giving anything you own to who you want, and not who the state of California thinks you would choose. Estate planning is how you can make sure that you end up with the arrangements you prefer.
Why does this apply even to younger people who own very little? Because I think you should get to choose who will make decisions about your health care, who will help manage your finances, and who will receive whatever property you have. If you are 18 and taken to an emergency room, the hospital is not supposed to provide information about you or your medical condition to anyone without your explicit permission. Not even to your parents, whether or not they provide your health insurance. The way to exercise your choices is to write them down. The documents that make up an estate plan are the documents that, when correctly completed and signed, will allow your choices to be known and enforced.
So if you are 18 years old or over, contact the Law Office of Alice K. Dueker for more information about how to proceed.
Law Office of Alice K. Dueker
1604 Solano Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94707
(510) 542-2920
alice@duekerlawoffice.com