The rate of decline in dementia can make it very difficult to accomplish your estate planning outline and strategies once your diagnosis has already progressed. The tips in this article should give you some insight over how you can plan well and advance in the early stages of when someone appears to be showing the signs or has just been diagnosed with dementia.
First of all, begin discussions early. The rate of decline for dementia patients will vary from one to another but his or her ability to be legally involved in planning will diminish over time, making these estate planning concerns more complicated. Second, gather all important papers as early as possible.
When a person who has been diagnosed with dementia is no longer able to manage their own affairs, a proxy or family members will need access to these important papers like financial documents or a living will. This is to ensure that the legal wishes of the person with dementia are followed.
These might need to be updated early on in the stages of diagnosis when the party still is able to speak to their wishes. Finally, review plans over time because additional changes in a personal situation of a person with dementia like a death in the family, relocation or a divorce as well as updates in state laws can impact how these documents become prepared and maintained.
You’ll want to have a relationship with a Massachusetts estate planning lawyer who is familiar with some of the complex challenges associated with planning for a loved one who has recently been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
