COVID Estate Planning: Powers of Attorney & Health Care Proxy Lawyers

Future Planning for Young Adults on Long Island

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the world in so many ways. As the spread of the virus continues and medical professionals gain more knowledge of its lasting health consequences, it has become apparent that people of all ages are susceptible to severe symptoms. Many young adults and college students are taking the initiative by preparing estate plans, including power of attorney and health care proxies to protect themselves far earlier than previous generations. Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. can assist the people of Long Island and Queens with this delicate process.

Our Long Island COVID estate planning attorneys have decades of collective legal experience helping our clients plan ahead with wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and more. Since opening our doors in 1976, we have grown a reputation for being able to deliver comprehensive legal services with genuine care and competitive prices.

If you want to know more about how you can plan ahead amid the COVID-19 pandemic, call 516-773-8300 to request a free consultation.

Creating a Healthcare Power of Attorney

In severe cases of the coronavirus, patients need to be put into a medically induced coma and placed on a respirator for weeks or more. While incapacitated, important decisions regarding medical treatments need to be made by someone. But who will make those calls if you are unable to make them yourself due to your coronavirus symptoms?

A healthcare power of attorney (HCPA) is a legal document that allows you to choose someone to act on your behalf for medical decisions you cannot make yourself. You will need to make and use an HCPA if you are temporarily incapacitated by the coronavirus because a living will – which you might have been considering – only applies if a doctor diagnoses you with a terminal illness or does not believe you will be able to wake from a comatose state.

You should consider the following when choosing who to be your HCPA agent:

• Agent’s relationship to you
• Agent’s ability to respond to emergencies
• Your overall health
• Your doctor’s prognosis
• Your special treatment preferences or requirements
• Agent’s understanding of your personal and religious views

The coronavirus is an aggressive illness that is notoriously difficult to treat. Mild to moderate symptoms can escalate quickly to a severe case for patients in any age group. When making your healthcare power of attorney, you should realize that your chosen agent or representative must make critical decisions in tough and possibly life-changing situations for you.

Do You Need a General Power of Attorney?

Your healthcare power of attorney is used to make medical decisions when you cannot. A general power of attorney can be used to give someone else the authority to make financial and property decisions on your behalf if you are incapacitated. Without knowing what is ahead, this could protect you in the event that there may be possible coronavirus complications.

A General Power of Attorney can protect Young Adults under a variety of circumstances:

• Managing day-to-day financial affairs
• Protecting financial accounts
• Employed or own a small business
• Own valuable real estate

Serving Long Island, Queens & NYC Metro Area

Our Long Island attorneys from Wisselman, Harounian & Associates, P.C. can help you decide if you want to make a healthcare power of attorney and/or a general power of attorney. Our goals are to help make the lives of our clients easier by providing thorough and clear legal representation.

Estate Planning Options for Young Adults

Wills and estate plans are typically associated with elders. However, there are no laws or provisions that limit the use of estate planning to people of a certain age. If you are concerned about the spread of the coronavirus and want to be diligent with your future planning, then you should speak to our lawyers about making a full estate plan, too. Depending on the estate planning tools you want to use, we can discuss guardianship of your children and dependents, distribution of your assets, probate matters, wills, trusts, and more.

Create a Comfortable Tomorrow by Planning for It

We all need to be careful and mindful during the coronavirus pandemic to protect ourselves and our loved ones. While you are wearing your mask in public, social distancing, and washing your hands frequently, do not forget that you also can protect yourself and others from hardships with legal foresight. Contact our Long Island COVID-19 healthcare power of attorney lawyers to discuss what you can do to plan ahead as a young adult. We are ready to help people from all walks of life, including young college students who are worried about contracting the virus while attending in-person classes at local universities.

You can call 516-773-8300 at any time that is convenient for you.