This month, we had the privilege, as Americans, to make our voices heard as we flooded the polls to vote for our next president.
Whichever way you voted, one thing is for certain: our politics, and the way we choose to vote, is a reflection of our particular values. What we believe is best, what we want for our country and for our children’s children influences which way we vote.
They say you should never talk about religion or politics amongst polite company, and that’s not what we’re here to do.
But there’s another conversation that’s just as difficult to have with the people we care about, and that’s the talk of what we want to happen to our bodies and our stuff if we should become disabled.
Our values influence every part of our lives, from the way we vote to the way we spend our money and relate to others.
But what if you found yourself in a situation where you had no choice about what happened to you or your money?
When someone becomes incapacitated, they may be forced to have a guardian.
A guardianship is a legal process used when you can no longer make decisions for yourself. A judge chooses a guardian for you, and your financial life becomes part of public record.
Especially if you’ve never talked to your loved ones about your values or written them down, your guardian has no idea what choices you would want to make for your own healthcare, let alone your assets!
And if you don’t have a trusted family member to become your guardian, you may become ward of a public guardian. This person will try their best to make sound decisions on your behalf, but doesn’t have any way of knowing how your values or faith might have caused you to make a different decision.
Luckily, with a few simple documents, a qualified Elder Law attorney can help you prevent the need for a guardianship if you should become disabled in the future.
That way, you can make your values, your faith, and your preferences known so that your guardian can make informed decisions about your care and your finances.
Call my office today at to learn more about how you can protect yourself.
