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Gevurtz Menashe

PDX 503.227.1515
WA 360.823.0410

Since 1982.

Planning for Incapacity

Serving the Greater Portland Metro Area

Ensure Your Wishes Are Known

Incapacity can result from a number of causes — like accidents, illness, disability, unconsciousness, or aging. In many cases, people don’t have advanced notice that their ability to make decisions, care for themselves, or manage their affairs is going to diminish or disappear. That’s why incapacity planning is so critical.

As a longstanding expert in estate planning, Gevertz Menashe can help you establish a safety net to protect you and your rights and wishes in the event that you become incapacitated. We’ll work with you to create the necessary documents to “speak” on your behalf in medical and monetary matters.

 

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Advance Directives & Powers of Attorney for Peace of Mind

Incapacity planning can include advance care planning, disability planning, and special needs planning.

With an advance directive and power of attorney in place, you’re providing actionable instructions regarding healthcare treatment, end-of-life decisions, and legal and financial considerations. 

Should something happen to you, your needs and preferences can still be met.

Through your advance directive and power of attorney, you designate a trusted person (known as an agent) to act on your behalf and for your benefit. Your agent would have the authority to do things like pay your bills, file your taxes, and transfer property for you, as well as work with your doctors and insurance on long-term care.
 

Advance Care Planning Documents

Your estate planning lawyer can help you craft documents that reflect your requirements and priorities.

  • ​Advance Directives. These are also known as living wills and healthcare directives. They are used to help determine what medical interventions — such as life support measures or do-not-resuscitate orders — you’ll get should you become incapable of communicating directly with care providers.
  • Power of Attorney. With this document, you’re appointing someone you trust to manage your financial and legal affairs if you’re physically or mentally unable to. Powers of attorney offer a lot of flexibility and control to you — you can define all the parameters surrounding the actions your agent is allowed to do (e.g., which accounts they can access).

Helping You Plan for When You Can’t

Over 40 Years of Experience

We’ve been helping families with estate planning for more than 40 years. Over the course of our practice, drafting iron-clad advance directives and powers of attorney for clients has become second nature.

Personalized to You

You’re unique. As such, your Gevurtz Menashe estate planning lawyer will guide you through the incapacity planning process. You’ll work collaboratively to determine the best way to structure your power of attorney, healthcare directive, will and/or trust, and other estate plan provisions.

Comprehensive Plans

As we’re well-versed in the laws and precedents surrounding disability, end-of-life care, and other aspects related to incapacity, your advance care planning will not only be tailored to your individual circumstances — it’ll also be comprehensive and meticulous.

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Praise from Our Clients

“My wife and I first worked with Sara Winter 2 years ago when my mother in law passed away and we needed assistance settling the estate.  More recently, Sara guided us through the estate planning process and getting our own trust set up.   In both cases, Sara and the team at Gevurtz Menashe were key to us reaching our goals and they were a pleasure to work with in all instances.”
-Dave Rynd


 
   

Attorneys

  • Steven Zipper Steven Zipper Shareholder
    Steven Zipper

    Steven Zipper

    Shareholder
    Steve combines his 23 years as an estate planning attorney with a solid tax background working at two of the "Big Five" accounting firms. As Shareholder of the estate planning practice Steve manages the business and assists clients with all aspects of their estate plans including wills, trusts, life insurance planning, estate and trust administration after death (including probate), as well as estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax planning. Steve’s focus is on helping people plan for protecting what is important to them, both during life and upon their death.  

    As an estate planning attorney, Steve is a sincere advocate and planner, working with clients through the complexities of their situations. In his personal life Steve enjoys spending time with his family, bicycling around Portland and planning for his next big travel adventure!
     
  • Stefan Wolf Stefan Wolf Shareholder
    Stefan Wolf

    Stefan Wolf

    Shareholder
    Stefan views his role as a strong support system, guiding people through the critical personal and financial choices involved in estate planning. As an experienced estate planning attorney, he regularly assists clients with wills, trusts, planning for incapacity, gift tax returns, estate tax returns, and probate and trust administration matters. Anchored by his attentive spirit and genuine charm, Stefan offers clients both candid and compassionate counsel – recognizing estate planning as one of the most important aspects in a person’s financial life. He approaches each client’s unique situation by identifying their personal and financial goals so that their estate can be handled in accordance with their wishes and in a tax-efficient manner. 

    As a Portland native, Stefan enjoys skiing, soccer, and spending time with his family. When asked where he would live if he could choose any place in the world, he’s quick to respond with his hometown of Portland, but admits the island of Kauai comes in at a close second.

  • Sara Winter Sara Winter Shareholder
    Sara Winter

    Sara Winter

    Shareholder
    Sara has a natural talent of instantly connecting with people. Both personally and professionally, building great relationships has always been the cornerstone of her success. Whether she is helping clients plan for their future or guiding them through the loss of a loved one, her goal is to give clients comfort that their loved ones are taken care of, preserve their legacy, and achieve their goals. Knowing each client has different needs, and complexity of estate planning work, she strives to ensure each client understands the work being done—and more importantly, the mission behind it—in a practical and sensitive manner. With an LL.M. in Taxation, Sara uses her expertise to place a special focus on tax planning for all of her clients, whether it is income, gift, or estate related.  
       
    Sara relocated to Portland after a decade of building a successful estate planning practice in Houston, Texas. When she’s not helping clients plan for their future, you’ll likely find Sara running, baking, or spending time with her husband, their son, and their French Bulldog, Butters.

    Her professional motto is "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." –Helen Keller 
     
Meet our entire team!

FAQ

  • What is incapacity planning?

    What is incapacity planning?

    It’s a part of estate planning that ensures your finances and medical care are managed if you become unable to handle them yourself.

  • What are the key documents associated with incapacity planning?

    What are the key documents associated with incapacity planning?

    An advance directive and power of attorney are the two main ones that you’ll want included in your estate plan (alongside your will, trust, etc.)

  • Do I need a lawyer for incapacity planning?

    Do I need a lawyer for incapacity planning?

    There’s no legal obligation. However, this is a complex area of law and it is highly recommended that you have an estate planning lawyer assist you so you create incontestable plans.

  • What happens if I don’t have advance care planning documents?

    What happens if I don’t have advance care planning documents?

    A court may appoint someone — possibly a person you’d rather not have acting on your behalf — to manage your affairs. The absence of proper incapacity planning could result in more work and stress for loved ones.

Our Locations

Portland

Vancouver

Start Your Advance Care Planning Today

At Gevurtz Menashe, our estate planning lawyers can help you with incapacity planning. This helps ensure your needs are met and wishes carried out during your lifetime and after you pass. To schedule a consultation, call our Portland (503-227-1515) or Vancouver (360-823-0410) office or fill out the contact form.