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You are here: Home / Archives for health care proxy

Health Care Proxies and Divorce

 

Once parties are divorced, medical directives in which the ex-spouse is the named agent are revoked in most states, including Massachusetts.

During the pendency of the divorce, however, there is no automatic revocation. Therefore, attorneys must determine whether clients have medical directives, obtain copies of them if they do, and determine with them if they need to be revoked.

Read article by Jonathan Fields here.

Filed Under: Grey Divorce Tagged With: Do not Resuscitate, grey divorce, health care proxy

Do Not Resuscitate: Must Hospital Honor a Tattoo?

Doctors in Miami faced an unusual ethical dilemma when an unconscious, deteriorating patient was brought into the emergency room with the words “Do Not Resuscitate” across his chest.

The 70-year-old man was taken earlier this year to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where doctors made their startling discovery: a chest tattoo that seemed to convey the patient’s end-of-life wishes. The word “Not” was underlined, and the tattoo included a signature.

Article is here.

Filed Under: Divorce and Family Law Tagged With: DNR, Do not Resuscitate, health care proxy

Back-to-School Estate Planning for College Students

At the start of the summer, we shared important information for parents and grandparents with loved ones turning 18. These estate planning tips are especially important to consider as students head to college this September.

Back-to-School planning can be a whirlwind, and while this planning typically involves stocking up on bulk cases of ramen noodles and extra-long sheets, it should also include a real conversation about what it means to be eighteen and away from home (most likely, for the first time).

Your eighteen-year-old child or grandchild may be so excited to start their college experience, that they may not be aware of how their changing legal status will impact them in a variety of ways. Read more.

Filed Under: Estate Planning, General Posts, Massachusetts Family Law Tagged With: back to school, College, Durable Power of Attorney, Estate Planning, health care proxy, HIPAA, Must-Have Documents

Important Graduation Safety Reminder for your 2014 Graduates

Do you have a child 18+ years of age?
What happens if he/she is injured in a car accident?

Did you know that once your child/grandchild turns 18:

  • You no longer have access to his/her medical records
  • You no longer can call a hospital and see if he/she is admitted after an accident
  • You no longer can make health care decisions for him/her, should they become injured or incapacitated
  • You no longer can call a doctor’s office and make an appointment for him/her
  • You no longer can help him/her with banking
  • You no longer have access to his/her grades, and you no longer can assist your child/grandchild concerning his/her problems they may be experiencing at school
  • You no longer can call the mail order prescription service to get him/her medication

What can you do? Read more.

Filed Under: Estate Planning, Massachusetts Family Law Tagged With: Class of 2014, Estate Planning, Graduation, health care proxy, HIPAA Release, Power of Attorney

Estate Planning for Young Adults

Turning eighteen is a milestone for many reasons.  You are legally an adult, with the ability to vote, and you may be heading off to college or starting a career.  The future is upon you, the world is your oyster, and any other number of clichés.  Regardless of where you are headed, it is most likely not to draw up an estate plan – but maybe it should be.

Especially for those high school graduates heading off to college, an estate plan could be just as important to bring along as a mini fridge and shower shoes.  A recent article by Sheyna Steiner on NBC News delves in to the importance of estate planning for the college-bound or recently graduated.  Read more.

Filed Under: Estate Planning Tagged With: Beneficiaries, College, Estate Planning, health care proxy, incapacity planning, Legacy, Power of Attorney, Will, Young Adults

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Recent Posts

A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er

January 27, 2021

The article below was written by Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW  and published in Citybizlist on January 25, 2021 Lest you think that the proprieties and perplexities surrounding broken engagements are a modern phenomenon, we need only look back to the 15th century. It is said that in 1477, Archduke Maximillian of Austria commissioned […]

Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal

January 21, 2021

Attorney Jonathan E. Fields was quoted in today’s Wall Street Journal Millennials Embrace Prenups—but Through a Very Different Lens Than in the Past Millennials are using prenups to address new economic and social issues—including rising student debt, social-media use and embryo ownership By Cheryl Winokur Munk Jan. 21, 2021 1:00 pm ET Millennials are often […]

Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

January 14, 2021

Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW was presented with Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021. This award is given to attorneys whose outstanding legal services have resulted in highly satisfied clients. There’s nothing that an attorney can do to ask for a Clients’ Choice Award. Instead, Avvo makes the award based only on quality […]

Attorney Jonathan Fields Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

January 5, 2021

Snap Judgments: Lawyers predict issue that will dominate legal landscape in 2021 By: Kris Olson December 31, 2020 (From Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly)  Q. Prediction time: What issue on the horizon will dominate the legal landscape in 2021?   “Five hours of time for a five-minute hearing has never seemed so wasteful. With the experience of remote hearings, will […]

Please Support Fields and Dennis LLP’s Fundraiser for K9s For Warriors

December 21, 2020

K9s For Warriors saves both warriors and rescue dogs. The program serves our warriors with service-connected Post-traumatic Stress Disability (PTSD) traumatic brain injury (TBI) and/or military sexual trauma, which can be deadly disorders. A trained rescue dog is paired with a warrior and the two meet for two weeks of training together at one of […]

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    • A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er
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    • Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal
    • Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

    Recent Firm News & Coverage

    • A Diamond is Forever, But the Engagement Ring May Be Ne’er

    • Attorney Jonathan E. Fields Quoted in Wall Street Journal

    • Vicki L. Shemin, J.D., LICSW, ACSW receives the Avvo Clients’ Choice Award Badge for 2021

    • Attorney Jonathan Fields Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

    • Please Support Fields and Dennis LLP’s Fundraiser for K9s For Warriors

    The Boston metro family law, divorce and estate planning attorneys at the law firm of Fields and Dennis LLP are based in the Newton Wellesley area and serve the city of Newton: Auburndale, Chestnut Hill, Newton Centre, Newton Corner, Newton Upper Falls, Newton Lower Falls, Nonantum, Oak Hill, Waban and West Newton and town of Wellesley: Babson Park, Wellesley Hills, Wellesley Square Fields and Dennis also serves many clients in the Greater Boston and Massachusetts region including Ashland, Dover, Holliston, Medfield, Needham, Sherborn, Westwood, and all of Massachusetts.

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