Know the limits of estate and financial planning for dementia. Also, often when a person or family member visits the offices of an estate planning attorney to talk issues related to dementia, the person in questioned condition might have already elevated to the point where it is impossible for estate planning to address all of these needs without advanced consideration.
This is because problems such as the person’s mental capacity at the time of signing over documents such as a power of attorney could be problematic. People in the future might argue that the individual diagnosed with dementia was not of sound mind when he or she signed the document and therefore did not have any idea of what he or she was agreeing to.
This can create significant problems in the future even if you assume that you did all of the necessary steps to protect your loved one’s interest, and even if you believe that the time he or she signed the documents they were indeed of sound mind. When you have questions related to this, it’s crucial to have an experienced estate planning and elder law lawyer to assist you with the process.
Only an elder law attorney will be knowledgeable about some of the most common issues surrounding the process of estate planning for someone who has dementia. The support of an attorney is instrumental in answering many of your most important questions and in clarifying a procedure for the future to articulate your goals and proper care for the loved one.
There are so many different questions that are raised around the process of having to address a loved one’s needs who has recently been diagnosed with dementia or who appears to have the early signs of suffering from cognitive decline. If you are in this position, gathering relevant family members might incite conflict and raise more questions than it does answers. Engaging early with financial professionals and a knowledgeable estate planning attorney can help.
