An attorney-in-fact is the person you assign to handle financial and legal affairs on behalf of your aging parents, while a healthcare representative is the person assigned to address medical concerns for them. Choosing the right person or people to fill these roles is a critical task that requires careful consideration. Our experienced New Jersey elder law attorneys at Rice & Quattrone, PC, are standing by to help.
The Qualities You’re Looking For
There are several key qualities you should be looking for when it comes to filling these roles.
Someone Local
To begin, access is very important in relation to decision-making authority. While living nearby isn’t a legal requirement for assignment of these roles, it can afford you considerable peace of mind. It also means that the person filling the role is far more likely to be available to make well-considered decisions when they need to be made.
Someone Whom You and Your Parents Trust
While proximity is an important administrative detail, integrity is paramount. The person or people you choose to take on these two key roles should be someone whom you and your parents trust implicitly.
Attorney-in-Fact
When it comes to the attorney in fact, you want someone who exhibits unimpeachable financial responsibility. Their financial focus should also align with your parents’ financial sensibilities.
Healthcare Representative
Your parents’ healthcare representative needs excellent communication skills, and they must be prepared to and capable of making difficult decisions in emergency situations. Finally, they must understand, appreciate, and be willing to follow your parents’ healthcare and end-of-life wishes.
Someone Who Can Navigate the Challenging Emotional Terrain Ahead
By the time the attorney-of-fact or healthcare representative you’ve elected is called upon to make decisions, one of your parents may be nearing an end-of-life stage. In other words, it’s a challenging emotional time for any family, and the situation can become very complicated very quickly. This makes it very important to have a representative who can remain cool under pressure and who has the finesse to gracefully handle any family conflict or drama that may arise.
Choosing One Proxy or Two
Many families prefer to choose one person to fill both roles. If you have someone in mind who has all the qualities you’re looking for in both an attorney-in-fact and a healthcare representative, they may be the right person to wear both hats. This helps streamline the process and can help minimize conflict during difficult times. A seasoned New Jersey elder law lawyer can help you make the right choices for your family.
Our Experienced New Jersey Elder Law Lawyers Are on Your Side
Our dedicated Certified Elder Law Attorneys at Rice & Quattrone, PC, have the compassion and legal skill to help you effectively assign the important roles of attorney-in-fact and healthcare representative on behalf of your aging parents. To learn more, please don’t delay contacting us online or giving our firm a call at 856-673-0048 today.