Planning for Empty Nesters

Palm Harbor, FL Estate Planning Law Firm

Senior Couple Sitting Outdoors

Palm Harbor Empty Nesters

You spent what feels like most of your life raising children, but now they are grown and living independent lives. At this point, you likely feel a wealth of emotions. Part of you feels free to do the things you’ve put off for years, such as traveling. However, you might feel like you’ve lost your sense of purpose and have some anxiety about what life looks like now that the kids are off finding themselves.

With so many emotions swirling around, it can be easy to forget about the things you need to take care of as you age. However, estate planning is essential for empty nesters. Let’s go over some ways that a Palm Harbor estate planning attorney can help you as you transition to this stage of life.

Advance Directives for Empty Nesters

After spending so much time caring for your children, you need to prepare for the time when the tables turn. One of the most shocking things to think about is that you may become the child and your child becomes the parent. As you age, you might need someone to take care of you. It’s normal to feel a loss of control even thinking about that. However, your Palm Harbor estate planning attorney can help you regain some control with advanced directives.

Living Will

First, your Palm Harbor estate planning attorney can help you create a living will. You can use this document to choose the medical treatment you want to receive if you are terminally ill or incapacitated. By outlining your wishes upfront, you will take the burden off your children. They won’t have to make difficult decisions since they will simply follow your guidance.

Health Care Surrogate

Designating a health care surrogate is also vital for empty nesters. You can choose the person who will step in and make health care decisions for you in the event you become incapacitated. From mini-strokes to slip and falls to a biking accident on the Pinellas Trail, you never know when you might need help. Your surrogate will use the living will as guidance when making those decisions.

Pre-Need Guardianship

Your Palm Harbor estate planning attorney can also help you designate a pre-need guardian. This allows you to choose who will care for you if you become incapacitated. Creating this document will give you control over your caregiver and also allow your family to avoid petitioning the court if you’re incapacitated. Failing to have this document in place means that a judge may make decisions for you that you would not have made for yourself. Not only do you lose control, but you could potentially have rights removed from you such as determining who you are allowed to socialize with and not being able to vote.

Power of Attorney

Your lawyer can also draft a power of attorney as part of your estate plan. You’ll name a person to handle your financial affairs if you become incapacitated when creating this advanced directive. As with the pre-need guardianship, this will prevent your family from petitioning the court if you cannot manage your affairs.

Ensure Your Assets Go to the Intended Beneficiaries

As an empty nester, it’s a great time to visit an estate planning attorney to update your legal documents. Your beneficiaries might have changed, so you need to make changes as needed. Many parents feel that they have raised their kids, and now it’s time to spend their money on themselves. Other parents are interested in creating a legacy so that when they die, they’ve made their mark in the world.

You’ll feel much more confident after you visit an estate planning attorney in Palm Harbor. Call Sherri M. Stinson, P.A. today for a consultation.

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