I'll be speaking at the next chapter meeting of Compassion & Choices in Boulder on Saturday, March 9, 2013 from 10:00–11:30 am.
Located at the West Senior Center on 9th and Arapahoe in Boulder.

All Compassion & Choices meetings are free and open to the public. Coffee and treats are served and there’s plenty of parking.

Learn more at:
http://www.compassionandchoicesboulder.org/upcoming-meetings/

A good lawyer should be your staunchest ally. You should feel that your lawyer is acting in your best interests at all times and keeping you informed every step of the way.

Evaluate a lawyer in the same way you would a physician, your child’s pediatrician, or an accountant. Is this person someone you can trust and someone you feel comfortable with? Is this person knowledgeable and can he or she explain issues to you in a clear, concise way?

Even if you already have a lawyer, or the deceased’s lawyer is prepared to work with you, if you do not feel comfortable with him or that person in any way, you are 100 percent entitled to find someone else. Do not let anyone bully, belittle, or coerce you into working with someone you don’t feel is right for you.

Ask for referrals from friends and take the time for an exploratory phone call or meeting.

Locate a Lawyer in Your Area

The American Bar Association lists lawyers and legal resources by state as well as free legal help and court information.
http://apps.americanbar.org/legalservices/findlegalhelp/home.cfm

Find a probate lawyer in your area.
http://www.usa-probate.com/

Find an inheritance lawyer in your area.
http://www.lawyers.com/Inheritance/browse-by-location.html

I can’t do this. I can’t handle this. I’m here to tell you: Yes, you can. It will be hard, and unfortunately there’s no way to sidestep the pain, but you can do this. You can come through this darkness, and you can be okay.

Unfortunately, the only way through it is through it. No one and nothing can take the pain away. No amount of drugs, alcohol, destructive behavior, or endless distractions will help you avoid or lessen what is yours alone to experience.

If you find yourself slipping farther and faster, your hold on everything is still tenuous and unraveling quickly, or you realize you’ve arrived at an “uh-oh” point, contact a health care professional—a grief counselor, psychiatrist, or a doctor. Help is always available. In addition to counseling, you may be given medication to help you cope with the strain.

Most people don’t know that death renders all guardianship and power of attorney documentation invalid. If a person held guardianship or power of attorney for the deceased, that person will not have the authority to act on the decedent’s behalf in death. Power of Attorney is only valid when someone is alive.