In this Elder Law Minute, Paige Fox explains the importance of estate planning documents, especially powers of attorney, for young adults.
Video Transcription:
Hi, my name is Paige Fox. I’m a Senior Associate Attorney here at Dent Coulson Elder Law. I understand these topics can be very complex, so I’m hoping these Elder Law Minutes bring some insight and understanding to both potential and current clients. Thank you.
Do younger adults need estate planning documents themselves? I’m here to tell you that the answer is yes.
Anyone over the age of 18 no longer has someone automatically authorized to make decisions on their behalf if they’re unable to do so. A perfect example: kids heading off to college who have just turned 18. They’re moving away from home, traveling often—and if something happens, like a car accident, no one (not even a parent) can automatically step in.
Speaking from personal experience, when I was in college, I got into a car accident and was knocked unconscious. My mom wasn’t able to get any information from the hospital—not just because she couldn’t make decisions for me, but because she wasn’t authorized to even receive information about my condition. It was a whole runaround.
Since becoming an estate planning and elder law attorney, I’ve learned how important it is for anyone over 18 to have powers of attorney in place—both for health care and property. These documents allow someone you trust to step in and make decisions on your behalf—whether it’s related to medical care or finances—if you’re ever unable to do so yourself.
So, for a practical Christmas or birthday gift, I recommend making sure that every young adult has powers of attorney for both health care and property. It’s a meaningful way to ensure you’re prepared in case something unexpected happens.
If you have any questions or need assistance with powers of attorney or other estate planning matters, feel free to reach out to us at Dent Coulson Elder Law. We’re happy to help.
Contact Us for Assistance
Thank you for watching our Elder Law Minute. If you need help with powers of attorney or any other estate planning needs, please call Dent Coulson Elder Law.
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“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”
Dent-Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Dent-Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (618) 632-7000 (IL) or (314) 567-9292 (MO), or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.
