Working Caregiver- Tips for a Productive Legal Consultation

It's always a good idea to know what you want to learn before you pay a consultant. Knowing the outcome of a legal consultation before the appointment, ensures you will walk away with your answers. Learning as much as possible ahead of time will help you have a productive consultation.

Individuals and families who are interested in a health care directive may wish to think about the type of life-sustaining procedures they would want used in the case of a serious illness. In addition, it may be helpful to identify several choices up front for a family member or trusted friend to make personal health care and financial decisions in the event you are unable to do this for yourself.

What to bring to a legal consultation:

• Bring a list of your or the elder's assets such as real estate, stocks, cash, jewelry, insurance, bank & savings accounts, annuities, etc. ;
• All documents of title; copies of deeds, stock certificates, loan papers, showing who the owners are and how title is held;
• Contracts or other legally binding documents;
• Lists of all major debts;
• Existing wills or Durable Powers of Attorney; and
• Bank statements, passbooks, CDs