3 Legal Issues You Should Handle for Your Mom
With Mother's Day approaching, sons and daughters nationwide are thinking of the best way to show their appreciation. Finding new ideas to impress your mom can be tough. But perhaps the best way to care for your aging Mom is to take care of her legal issues.
And no, that doesn't mean pay off any pending lawsuits against her. Though that'd be nice (other than your Mom being sued, of course). The kind of issues contemplated here relate to your mother's long-term care.
So here are three important future-planning needs you can handle for your Mom:
1) Estate Planning
A lot of the items on this list may seem morbid, but that doesn't make them any less necessary. And helping your mother plan her estate is perhaps one of the most important.
An estate consists of all the property and assets owned by a person at the time of their death. This includes everything from cars, homes, and bank accounts to insurance policies, bonds, and family heirlooms.
The first step in helping your Mom plan her estate is cataloging her possessions, accounts, and passwords. This will help her create a trust or write her will much easier.
2) Choosing a Long-Term Care Facility
It's hard to see any parent as less than invincible. But people get old, and so does your Mom. You don't want her to have to struggle with everyday activities in her later years, so help her pick a long-term care solution.
Whether it's moving her in with you or a relative, hiring a home nurse, or placing her in an elder care facility, broaching the topic can be tense. The sooner you do it though, the easier it will be for her to make the transition when the time comes.
3) Protecting Her From Scams and Abuse
Seniors are often the target of scams and abuse. Prevent your Mom from becoming a victim by making sure she knows she can always come to you for help. Keep up with the news and inform your Mom of recent scams. You can also sign her up for identity protection services and install a security and video monitoring system in her home. The latter is especially useful if you plan on hiring a caretaker for her.
Handling these legal issues for your aging Mom will help her live a happy stress-free life.
Related Resources:
- Elder Abuse Protection Overview (FindLaw)
- Elder Abuse Lawyer Directory by Location (FindLaw)
- How to Avoid 3 of the Most Common Consumer Scams (FindLaw's Common Law)
- How to Spot Signs of Elder Abuse (FindLaw)
You Don’t Have To Solve This on Your Own – Get a Lawyer’s Help
Meeting with a lawyer can help you understand your options and how to best protect your rights. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help.
