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 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.