Shrewsbury Living Wills and Powers of Attorney Lawyers
Planning for the future is one of the most meaningful steps you can take for yourself and your loved ones. While many people associate estate planning with wills and trusts, two equally important tools—living wills and powers of attorney—provide critical protections during your lifetime. These documents ensure that your wishes are respected and that trusted individuals are empowered to act on your behalf if you cannot act for yourself.
At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, we understand that conversations about incapacity, illness, or end-of-life care are not always easy. Our Shewsbury estate planning attorneys provide the guidance you need to make clear, informed decisions, and we follow through by drafting the legal documents that put your wishes into effect. With our help, you can have peace of mind knowing that you are prepared for life’s uncertainties.
What Is a Living Will?
A living will, sometimes called an advance healthcare directive, is a document that outlines your preferences for medical care if you become unable to communicate your wishes. It addresses matters such as:
- Whether you want life-sustaining treatment if you are terminally ill or permanently unconscious
- The use of artificial nutrition and hydration
- Pain management and comfort care
By making your preferences clear in advance, you relieve your family of the burden of making these decisions in a time of stress and uncertainty. A properly drafted living will also helps avoid potential conflicts among loved ones who may disagree on what kind of treatment you would want.
What Is a Power of Attorney?
A power of attorney (POA) allows you to appoint another person—called your agent or attorney-in-fact—to act on your behalf in specific matters. There are different types of powers of attorney, each designed for different purposes:
- Financial Power of Attorney: Authorizes your agent to manage your financial affairs, such as paying bills, managing investments, filing taxes, or handling real estate transactions.
- Healthcare Power of Attorney: Allows your agent to make healthcare decisions for you if you are incapacitated. This can complement your living will by appointing a trusted person to interpret your wishes and communicate with doctors.
- Limited or Special Power of Attorney: Grants your agent authority to handle specific tasks, such as signing documents at a real estate closing while you are out of town.
- Durable Power of Attorney: Remains in effect even if you become incapacitated, ensuring continuity in managing your affairs.
Without a power of attorney, your family may need to go through a court process to obtain guardianship or conservatorship in order to manage your affairs, forcing an expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally difficult step on them that can often be avoided with proper planning.
Why Living Wills and Powers of Attorney Are Essential
Many people assume estate planning only deals with what happens after death. But the reality is that life often presents unexpected challenges. An accident, serious illness, or sudden medical emergency can leave you unable to speak for yourself. Without the right legal documents in place, decisions about your health and finances may be made by others, possibly against your wishes.
Living wills and powers of attorney give you control, even in situations where you cannot act for yourself. They also protect your family by reducing stress, avoiding disagreements, and providing clear direction when it is most needed.
Customized Planning for Your Needs
At Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, we know that no two clients are alike. Some people want to provide broad authority to a trusted spouse, child, or sibling. Others prefer to set specific limits or designate different agents for different roles—for example, one person to handle finances and another to handle healthcare.
We take the time to listen to your goals and concerns and then draft documents that reflect your unique circumstances. Our attorneys can:
- Draft and execute living wills that align with your medical values and preferences
- Prepare healthcare and financial powers of attorney tailored to your needs
- Ensure your documents comply with New Jersey law and will be recognized by financial institutions and healthcare providers
- Coordinate living wills and powers of attorney with your broader estate plan, including wills, trusts, and asset protection strategies
Updating Your Living Will or Power of Attorney
Life circumstances change, and your planning documents should change with them. Marriages, divorces, the birth of children, or changes in your health may all affect your preferences or who you want to designate as your agent.
We recommend reviewing your living will and powers of attorney every few years, or sooner if you experience a major life event. Our attorneys can review your existing documents, advise whether revisions are needed, and prepare updated versions that reflect your current wishes.
Compassionate Guidance from Experienced Estate Planning Attorneys
In every matter, our firm focuses on providing excellence in client-centered service. We know these conversations can be emotional, and we approach them with sensitivity and respect. We also recognize that these documents are just one part of your overall estate plan, and we are here to ensure that all aspects of your planning work together to protect you and your loved ones.
Whether you are creating a living will or power of attorney for the first time or updating existing documents, Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC is here to help.
Talk to a Shrewsbury Estate Planning Attorney Today
You deserve the security of knowing your wishes will be honored and your family will be supported no matter what the future brings. The estate planning attorneys at Sanvenero & Cittadino, LLC, provide practical advice and carefully crafted documents to help you achieve that peace of mind.
Call our office today to schedule a consultation. From our office in Shrewsbury, we proudly serve clients in Monmouth County, Ocean County, Middlesex County, and throughout Central Jersey and the northern Jersey Shore.