The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease can have far reaching ripple effects throughout your entire family. It raises many different questions, chief among them, who will help to take care of your loved one in the immediate future and what will happen to their assets after they pass away.Estate planning for Alzheimer's concept: a senior woman writing a memo in a notebook

Estate Planning for Alzheimer’s or Dementia is Vital

If your loved one has not done any estate planning up to this point, it becomes critical to create these documents as soon as possible after a diagnosis is discovered. This helps to ensure that your loved one’s wishes are respected and that the right people are appointed in positions of authority should the loved one’s condition decline.

In these circumstances, it is especially important to have the insight of a dedicated estate planning lawyer. Many Massachusetts families are simply unprepared for what happens when someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Declining physical and mental health are some common impacts of Alzheimer’s disease, so it is extremely important early on to make sure to create an estate plan or to update existing estate planning documents to ensure that the person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease has his or her wishes followed.

Estate Planning for Alzheimer’s Disease in Massachusetts

Alzheimer’s disease will progress uniquely in each individual patient, which means it can be challenging to predict the future. It is possible that estate plans created after someone’s cognitive health has begun to decline may become the subject of trust or estate conflicts in the future. With so many complex issues at play, it is extremely important to contact a dedicated and experienced estate planning lawyer. Only a knowledgeable Massachusetts estate planning lawyer can help you navigate this process.

 

 


Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content does not create an attorney-client relationship. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a qualified attorney.

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

About Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP

Tiffany A. O'Connell, JD, LLM, CELA, AEP is the CEO and Founding Partner of O'Connell Law, an estate planning and elder law firm serving clients across Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont. She is one of a select group of attorneys in Massachusetts certified by the National Elder Law Foundation as a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA). Tiffany focuses her practice on estate planning, trust and probate administration, Medicaid planning, long-term care planning, Alzheimer's planning, charitable planning, and retirement and wealth strategies. She has been helping families plan for their futures since opening her practice in 2010.

Credentials: JD, LLM, CELA (Certified Elder Law Attorney — National Elder Law Foundation), AEP (Accredited Estate Planner)

Licensed in: Massachusetts

Areas of Practice: Estate Planning, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, Probate & Trust Administration, Alzheimer's Planning, Asset Protection

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