Rough week. Mom has had a couple of strokes and in the ICU. My brother and I are going to need to handle her finances, short/long term disability, bills, etc.
Is this something we need a lawyer for or will one these legal document services.

Future is currently unknown but pretty sure a POA will suffice. Time will tell if we are talking financial guardianship or not but at least for the time being a POA should suffice.
We’ll reevaluate based upon results or lack there of come from in patient rehab when she is released from the hospital.

Hospital had a medical POA so that is now on file but need to get some other ends tied up.

You should secure the services of a family attorney as these are simple matters but differ from state to state. Should not be that expensive. BTW many patients make a full recovery from a CVA. It takes time and therapy.

I'd think its pretty staight forward. I'm wondering if she's considered "of sound mind" after suffering multiple strokes and in ICU to get it done tho.

Hope it all works out for her. And you.

I am my fathers medical and financial POA if he is incapacitated. The hospitals or banks will require a letter from an attorney stating as much. Had to use it half a dozen times over the past 5 years as my dad is now 87.

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I'd think its pretty staight forward. I'm wondering if she's considered "of sound mind" after suffering multiple strokes and in ICU to get it done tho.

We had to do one for my father in law when he was in a nursing home and ill. The notary that arrived to sign everything asked him several questions to ensure he was of sound mind prior to accepting signatures on anything.

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Originally posted by Shaql:
I'd think its pretty staight forward. I'm wondering if she's considered "of sound mind" after suffering multiple strokes and in ICU to get it done tho.

Hope it all works out for her. And you.

Fortunately her mental cognition seems to be nearly unaffected. The issue is motor skills, She knows everything that is going on she just has a very very delayed response, trouble with fine motor skills especially in her left hand, and she has zero expression.
She used to be one of the smiliest people you’d meet not anymore.

Her carotid is still blocked and hopefully the blood thinners will work to clear the clot. The question remains will she fully regain these things once the blood is flowing to her brain as it should.

Recovery takes from six months to a year. Hope things work out for her.

We got a PoA for my Dad.

Then used that to get me onto his accounts since PoA ceases on death.

With me on his accounts, it was much easier after his passing later on.

I speak from bad experience here, but make sure you know if your mother says she "just wants to die" to a doctor. My father said that and the doctor who was also a hospice doctor was starving him to death. They kept him drugged and only fluids. Got him out of that hospital after he fell into a coma and they fed him through the tube. Low and behold his condition improved in just two days.
He got stronger and is doing well at 87.

Do it Sooner rather than later. This is one of those areas
where lawyers can really do some good.

When my Dad was incapacitated, I got a limited power of attorney to keep his office running.

Worked out well for him.

I'm sorry to hear about your mom, and I hope she has a full and speedy recovery.

Unlike wills and such, POAs are usually pretty standard. I would suggest you start by searching for "[your state] durable power of attorney." They're usually pretty straightforward, so it's likely you'll be able to find a form online that satisfies the statute. If you can't find an official state form, you might find one from a local bar association
or legal-aid society. One from one of the legal form shops will suffice, but it must be for your state. It must also be a durable power, otherwise it will become ineffective if she becomes incompetent. It will almost certainly need to be notarized and witnessed. The hospital should be able to help out with that.

In the longer term, you'll want to hook up with an estate-planning attorney who can make sure everything is in order. Depending on her financial circumstances, she might be able to get help from local legal-aid society with that.

Not sure if all states have the same rules, so please check your state. Indiana doesn’t require a lawyer, last I checked, but must be signed by a notary, or by two witnesses I believe, in the presence of the person having one appointed. You can get the forms online and print them out. Of course, when my parents got older, I re did the paperwork with a lawyer to make sure they had a copy and that nothing was missed, had financial, medical durable so I could handle everything just in case.

Everyone over the age of 60, younger if you so choose should have:

Last Will and Testament
HIPPA Release and Authorization
Declaration of Guardian
Medical Power of Attorney
Directive to Physicians and Family or Surrogates
Statutory Durable Power of Attorney
Memorandum Regarding Personal Property

All of these are pretty much standard for a professionally prepared Will set, unless you have multiple trusts and out of state properties.
Not overly expensive for those of us with the usual assets and family ties, and saves a lot of wondering and grief by survivors.

M1009, it’s not that you must have a lawyer, but one of those things which shouldn’t cost too much, and A lawyer can help head off any problems which may arise.

+1 to Navyguy. I’m a Big fan of guardianships, and feel they are very underutilized. If nothing else technology issues can make it advisable For people past a certain age to not be able to sign something without the consent of someone else or a judge.

Good reminder for everyone here that doesn't have these documents in place to get them done.
The thread about various members ages shows that anyone here needs to have the bases covered as you never know.
Even if you're a little younger and healthy, accidents can happen too.