Almost everyone needs at least some form of estate planning whether it is a simple will or an advance plan. Evolvitas will help you figure out what you need and what you don’t.
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An estate plan is the last gift you give your family.
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Estate Plan Documents
Below is a description of some of the common elements to an estate plan, though not every element applies to every person’s situation.
Will
Your will is the primary means of transferring assets upon death. It can also serve to appoint a guardian for your children and to declare how your remains should be handled.
Health Care Power of Attorney
A health care power of attorney gives someone you trust (your “agent”) the discretion to consent to or refuse any kind of medical treatment on your behalf.
Financial (or General) Power of Attorney
A financial power of attorney is similar to the health care power, but it limits your agent’s discretion to financial decisions made on your behalf.
Living Will
In Colorado, this document is more technically called a Declaration as to Medical or Surgical Treatment. Your living will lets your family and your health care providers know (and, in most cases, binds them to follow) your wishes concerning artificial life support in the event you are incapacitated and have a terminal condition.
Declaration of Anatomical Gift
A declaration of anatomical gift expresses your wishes regarding organ and tissue donation.
Declaration Regarding Temporary Care
This document is intended to be a practical way to let emergency personnel know to which of your family, friends, or neighbors they can release minors or others in your care when you are incapacitated. The aim is to keep dependents, especially minor children, out of the hands of government agencies during times of medical crisis in your family.
Emergency Wallet Card
The wallet card is designed to let emergency personnel know your name, address, emergency contacts, medical information, and other pertinent information so that they can best treat you and your family members during emergencies.
Trust
A trust is a legal construction, managed by a trustee, that holds assets on behalf of a beneficiary. Trusts are complex documents that are created for a variety of reasons, most commonly to avoid probate or to preserve privacy.
Plans
Most families will need at least a will, a living will, a declaration of anatomical gift, medical and financial powers of attorney for each spouse, a declaration regarding temporary care, and an emergency wallet card, though in some circumstances one or more trusts may also be appropriate. We have two plans that cover the majority of circumstances: standard and advanced.
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Don’t be caught unprepared for the realities of life. What’s your plan?
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Standard
Our standard plan includes for each spouse a will, a living will, a declaration of anatomical gift, medical and financial powers of attorney, a declaration regarding temporary care, and an emergency wallet card. In addition, we spend as much time with you as necessary to make sure we have gotten everything correct and that you are comfortable with your choices.
Pricing
- For an individual: $595
- For a married couple: $995
Custom
If your needs vary from our standard plan, we will be happy to prepare a customized estate plan for you.
To help you decide what you need and what costs are involved in creating an estate plan, please give us a call or shoot us an email, and we’ll discuss which documents are right for you and your family. As always, with our fixed pricing, you will know ahead of time how to budget appropriately.
If you decide that our Select Counsel plans do not fit your current needs, we also provide the above-described documents individually via our Open Counsel offering.
