THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 16, 1996 TAG: 9601160258
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
The best way to avoid guardianship is to plan for possible incapacity now, while you're healthy.
Something as simple as a joint banking account can sometimes avoid guardianship if there's no dissension in the family and a relatively small income goes into the account through direct deposit, said Jean Galloway, president of the Virginia Guardianship Association. So your spouse, child or neighbor - whoever is named on the joint account - can use the money to pay your bills.
Other informal arrangements, such as having a volunteer or aide pay a person's bills, can also work, she said.
The best way to avoid a guardianship is to have a power of attorney that covers nearly everything that might come up in your life, Galloway said.
For medical decisions, she recommends the Virginia Advanced Medical Directives Statute, a type of living will, which outlines every detail of the kind of medical treatment you want - or don't want.
Kevin Rack, a Virginia Beach elder-care attorney, recommends a ``living'' trust as an alternative to power of attorney. With a living trust, he said, you put all your assets into the trust, naming yourself as executor and another person as executor if you can no longer handle your affairs. MEMO: [For a related story, see page A1 for this date.]
by CNB