trustor, lawyerPlanning a meeting with a lawyer to help your aging relative plan for the future? If so, take a moment to read this to help you understand the legal terms commonly used by lawyer.

 

Here are some terms your lawyer may use:

Agent– The person given legal authority to make financial decisions for the person with dementia
(principal) through a power of attorney document, usually a trusted family member or friend; see also, health care agent

Artificial life support– Medical equipment and other technology used to prolong the life of a person who is seriously ill by sustaining essential body functions, like breathing

Assets– Personal possessions of value, including cash, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles and investments

Beneficiaries– The people named in the will to receive the estate of the person with dementia upon his or her death

Conservator– The person appointed by the courts to make financial and/or health care decisions on behalf of the person with dementia; referred to as the guardian in some U.S. states

Custody– Legal responsibility for a person

DNR– Stands for “Do not resuscitate” and refers to a person’s instructions that, if his or her heart or breathing stops, the doctor should not try to restart it

Durable– When a power of attorney document is durable, it is valid even after the person with dementia can no longer make his or her own decisions

Execute– To legally sign or “carry out” a legal document

Executor– The person named in a will to manage the estate of the person with dementia upon his
or her death

Grantor– The person for whom a living trust is created; for example, the grantor of the John W. Smith Living Trust is John W. Smith; also called a trustor

Guardian– The person appointed by the courts to make financial and/or health care decisions on behalf of the person with dementia; referred to as the conservator in some U.S. states

Health care agent– The person given legal authority to make health care decisions for the person with dementia (principal) through a power of attorney for health care document; usually a trusted family member or friend

Legal capacity– The level of judgment and decision-making ability needed to sign official documents

Principal– The person with dementia who, through a power of attorney document, legally chooses an individual to make decisions on his or her behalf

Probate– The process used by the court to distribute the property of a person who has died

Summons– A notice to appear in court; delivered to the person with dementia when a petition of guardianship or conservatorship has been filed

Trustee– The individual or bank chosen to manage the property (assets) in the living trust of the person with dementia

Trustor– The person with dementia for whom a living trust is created; for example, the trustor of the John W. Smith Living Trust is John W. Smith; also called a grantor

 

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Source: Alzheimer’s Association