By Eleanor Szymanski
We don’t like to think about being in a situation where we can’t speak and act on our own behalf, but that can happen after an auto accident, an illness, a stay in the hospital, or in the event of dementia or even death. In most cases, family members step into the role by default, but they may be prevented from doing so without the proper legal authorization from you.
It’s important for adults of any age to have named someone to legally act on their behalf when they can’t function themselves. Keep in mind that it is the responsibility of the state to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves.
It is assumed by the state that minors cannot legally speak for themselves, and neither can those who are incapacitated or those who have died. If we have arranged — legally and in writing — to appoint someone to speak for our minor children and ourselves in these cases, the state will accept our wishes and generally will not interject itself.
While we are living, one of the most important designations is an advance medical directive. This document names someone (and backups) to make medical decisions for us when we cannot. People who have old directives should be sure to update them to include the new privacy language (HIPPA, which stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) specifying who is authorized to receive our medical information.
As for designating someone to act on our behalf in legal matters, the appropriate documents are a durable power of attorney, a living trust, and a will.
A durable power of attorney appoints a person, with backups, to sign our name and transact legal matters on our behalf. This power can be granted for a single period of time, a single event or an indefinite period.
A living trust is a more complex and comprehensive document. It not only appoints a person as trustee to sign our name, but also spells out in detail exactly how that person is authorized to act. If certain family members may not agree with your choices, a private document called a living trust will allow your designee to carry out your wishes without interference from them or anyone else.

By Geoff Mulvihill Associated Press AP John Grant, left, listens as his civil union partner Daniel Weiss testifies before the the Senate Judiciary Committee in Trenton, NJ, Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, during a hearing on a bill allowing gay couples to
Take away Medicare/Medicaid and give out Cracker-Jack surprise vouchers so we can give more money to HMO's and insurance companies. Take away any hope or shot this generation has at ever having anything better than a 10.00 an hour job (if they are
TRENTON, NJ , Jan. 27 -- The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance issued the following news release: Many New Jersey baby boomers may be considering retiring in 2012. Those without guaranteed healthcare in retirement will face the task of

By Times of Trenton guest opinion column By Eleanor Szymanski We don't like to think about being in a situation where we can't speak and act on our own behalf, but that can happen after an auto accident, an illness, a stay in the hospital,
Making gay marriage legal in New Jersey dominated legislative debate in Trenton in the past week. While Christie proposed a ballot question on the issue, and said he would abide by the results if it went to voters in November, he threatened to veto
Trenton Homeowners Insurance
Trenton homeowners insurance is your best line of defense against damage to your most prized investment, your family's home. Maintaining Trenton homeowners insurance is always a stipulation of a standard New Jersey home loan mortgage agreement. You'll need to have and keep your Trenton homeowners insurance in order to keep your home. But policies vary in the amount of coverage they provide, and in order to make sure you're fully protected, you should shop around for the best Trenton, NJ coverage you can afford.
Finding quality coverage at low prices can be a challenging task, but the payoff is worth the effort. Begin by seeking quotes from several different Trenton homeowners insurance companies. Then use those quotes to compare policies. Keep in mind, your New Jersey home protection shouldn't only be about the price you'll pay. You need to find a Trenton area homeowners insurance company that can satisfy all your insurance needs.
Often, when faced with the loss of personal property, as in damage from flood or fire, or loss by theft, possibly from a break in, you'll be feeling quite vulnerable and possibly be in shock. The way your Trenton, NJ insurance company treats you from the beginning says a lot about how they'll take care of you if you need to file a claim. Good customer service is essential when choosing a home insurer .
What about coverage? What exactly is included in your protection? Can you ever expand your homeowners insurance policy to include things that aren't always included on your regular Trenton homeowners, or hazard, policy?
Frequently, an owner will insure items that are high value such as expensive tools and equipment, musical instruments, jewelry or high end electronics, through riders or inclusions on their Trenton homeowners insurance policy. What this means is that your agent will write your policy to specifically include coverage of these items. For additional cost, you can expand your policy to include most anything of high value.