Power of Attorney

A Power of Attorney (POA) can be one of the most powerful estate planning documents you create, providing someone you trust with the authority to make decisions on your behalf. In Indiana, as in many states, a properly executed POA allows you to appoint an Agent to step in and manage your financial, legal, or healthcare matters if you are unable to do so yourself. This can help avoid delays and the need for a court-appointed guardian, especially in cases of sudden illness or incapacity. … [Read more...] about Power of Attorney Mistakes to Avoid Making

A Power of Attorney is one of the most used estate planning tools. At some point in your life, you will likely execute a Power of Attorney and/or be named as an Agent under someone else’s Power of Attorney. While you may be familiar with the concept of a Power of Attorney, you may not know everything that you need to know about how one works. With that in mind, an Indianapolis estate planning attorney at Frank & Kraft discusses what you need to know before executing a Power of … [Read more...] about What You Need to Know Before Executing a Power of Attorney

The ability to make your own healthcare decisions is likely something you take for granted. After all, you have been doing so for your entire adult life, right? There may come a time, however, when you are unable to make and/or communicate your own decisions because you are incapacitated. If that comes to pass, you need to be prepared. Signing a HIPAA Authorization and executing a Healthcare Power of Attorney are two things you can do to prepare for the possibility of your own incapacity. With … [Read more...] about What Is the Difference between a HIPAA Authorization and a Healthcare Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is one of the most used estate planning tools. At some point in your life, you will likely execute a Power of Attorney and/or be named as an Agent under someone else’s Power of Attorney. Despite how common these documents are, several misconceptions remain about the power granted when you execute a Power of Attorney. To help clear some of those up, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain the limits to an Agent’s authority under a General Power … [Read more...] about Under a General Power of Attorney, Are There Limits to an Agent’s Power?

Although every estate plan is as unique as the individual who creates the plan, there are some common documents that tend to be found in the average estate plan. A power of attorney is one of those. You probably have some idea what a power of attorney is and how one works; however, do you know what a “durable” power of attorney is, and do you need to include one in your estate plan? The Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft explain a “durable” power of attorney and discuss … [Read more...] about Do I Need a “Durable” Power of Attorney?

A Power of Attorney (POA) can help accomplish such a wide range of estate planning goals that you will likely include one in your plan at some point.  Unfortunately, the familiar nature of POAs means that they are also frequently misunderstood, misused, and abused. Executing the wrong type of Power of Attorney can be a costly mistake. To help prevent you from making a mistake, the Indianapolis estate planning attorneys at Frank & Kraft help you to understand your Power of … [Read more...] about Understanding Your Power of Attorney

Simply put, there are many types of powers of attorney. With this in mind, it’s imperative that you know what type of legal document you can create as you go through the estate planning process. If you believe there is only one type of power of attorney, if you don’t take the time to learn more about your other options, you’ll soon realize that you need to double back and make some changes. With the help of your estate planning attorney, sit down and learn more about the many types of … [Read more...] about Compare the Many Types of Powers of Attorney

If you’ve ever had a family member who suffered from Alzheimer’s diseases or some other form of dementia – or have had someone you love suddenly incapacitated due to other illness or injury, then you are probably already familiar with just how difficult those situations can be. In addition to the stress and worry that incapacitation causes for loved ones, there are also issues related to how an incapacitated individual’s financial and health care decisions are to be made. It is important to … [Read more...] about The Importance of Power of Attorney for Indianapolis Residents