About Me

The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Domestic violence was a part of my family's life for years. When I made the decision to leave with my children, I had to rely on the law to provide the protection we needed. Sometimes, the system does not work as fast as we want. I soon learned that going at it alone without any guidance caused significant delays. I created this blog to help others who are seeking legal means to deal with an abusive ex. By making the right moves, it is possible to get the necessary protections in place so that you can also live a happier and healthier life.

Search

Latest Posts

The ABCs of Dealing With Domestic Violence

Help Your Loved One With Estate Planning If You Feel They Are Vulnerable To Outside Influences

by Gina Hill

No one likes to think about an elderly loved one eventually passing away, but if you have a parent or other relative who is getting up there in years, you owe it to them to make sure that their final end of life planning goes as smoothly as possible, and that includes their estate planning. If your loved one seems to be having mental lapses or other similar issues in their old age, it's important for them to have their estate planning organized while they are still cognizant enough to have a say in the matter. Here are some estate planning tips to keep in mind as well as some warning signs you might want to watch out for.

Hire an Attorney

An attorney can act as a neutral representative from outside the family who will ensure that your loved one's best interests are taken care of. Get your loved one to sit down with an attorney and get everything in writing while they are still mentally strong enough to make these decisions on their own. Having ironclad documentation in writing of your loved one's wishes will help your family maintain control of the situation if there are ever any outside influences that might try to take advantage of the situation.

Watch Out for New Relationships Late in Life

Did your loved one recently make a new friend who seems awfully interested in your loved one's belongings or possessions? There's nothing wrong with a senior citizen making a new friend, but you should keep an eye on the situation and make sure that this friend has your loved one's best interests in mind. If this new relationship affects your loved one to the point where they are no longer spending as much time with the rest of the family or spending an inordinate amount of time with just this newcomer, these could potentially be red flags you should watch out for.

Watch Out for Gifts

You also don't want to see your loved one suddenly giving things away in their old age, especially if they are giving it to a newcomer outside of the family. One of the reasons to set up estate planning is that it could give the lawyer or a member of your family the power of attorney over your loved one's affairs once they are no longer mentally strong enough to make good decisions. This could help you ensure that your loved one's financial accounts or other possessions are not raided by someone outside the family.

Contact an estate planning attorney today for more information.

Share