Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Arlene Petersen, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q I am sorry to admit I donāt have a will or trust and was told this is very important. I spoke to a friend who seems to have it all ātogether,ā and I feel so behind in this area. Where do I begin? I am 75 years old.
A It is very important to have a trust or at the very least a will. Simply put, these are tools you need because they will reflect the decisions you make for your estate and leave no room for questions when it comes to your wishes.
That being said, I highly recommend seeking the help of an expert. For most people, their first reaction would be to contact an attorney. I agree with this step, but I recommend doing a little research before you pick up the phone and start calling local attorneys.
We know there are areas of specialty attorneys practice in, so it is important to work with an attorney whose work specializes in trusts, and more specifically, in elder law.
There are not many attorneys who work in the field, so start by checking online. Two websites to check are the National Elder Law Foundation (www.nelf.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (www.naela.org). Another great source is to speak to your bankās trust officer.
Other places that can provide information are care support groups, senior service organizations, and your local hospital. Make sure you are prepared with questions to ask. For example, how long has the attorney been practicing law? How long has the attorney been practicing specifically in elder law? What percentage of the practice is dedicated to elder law? Is there a fee for a consultation? What information do you need to have a productive consultation?
Make sure you understand your options, so you can make a well-informed decision. Remember, your trust will be the navigation tool for your estate, so it is important to not only be educated but to trust who you will ultimately work with.
ā¢ Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to apetersen@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
