The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm Founder, Victoria L Collier, Encourages Clients To Be Proactive In Order To Avoid Having Wills Contested.

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Estate & Asset Protection Attorney, Victoria Collier talks about the frequency that wills are contested by disgruntled family members upon the death of their loved ones and how this can be avoided by including a letter of competency with legal documents.

DECATUR, GA, June 09 2020: Victoria L. Collier, founder of The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm, has posted a new article on her law firm’s website entitled “Be Proactive And Include A Letter Of Competency With Legal Documents,” in which Ms. Collier discusses how to get such a letter and where to keep it.

Collier states, In my law practice, I see heartbreaking situations where people contest the validity of wills claiming that the recently deceased loved one was mentally incapacitated when they absolutely were not.” She continues adding, “I have seen this so many times that I now talk to my clients about being proactive and including a letter of competency in with their legal documents, whether they have any diagnosed mental health issues or not.”

As Collier points out, “Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease and other health issues that affect mental capacity are widespread today, which makes mental incapacity the “go-to” excuse for those wanting to contest a will. You could be in your right mind right up until the moment you take leave of this earth,” she adds, “but that won’t stop disgruntled family members who are not happy with the directives of a will. A letter of competency will nip those doubts in the bud, thus eliminating any doubts about the validity of legal documents.”

According to Collier, “Your primary care physician is typically the one who would write this letter for you. Of course,” she elaborates, “it must be a doctor who has seen you over the course of several years and is familiar with any changes in mental and physical health. Also, if you have been under the care of a doctor who specializes in mental health and cognition, such as a psychiatrist or a neurologist, getting a letter of competency from them would be a good idea.”

Collier offers, “By way of example, let’s say your mother is experiencing mild memory loss and has not had a primary care doctor for a decade. In this case, a complete mental evaluation conducted by a specialist would be more credible compared to a mini-mental exam conducted by a new family doctor who is seeing her for the first time. Very often the attorney you’re working with may be able to recommend which of your loved one’s physicians would be able to provide the most accurate statement.”

The entire article can be read at https://elderlawgeorgia.com/blog/proactive-letter-of-competency/

About The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm

The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm was established to serve the legal needs of retiring citizens. The Firm focuses its entire practice on providing strategies to protect independence, privacy, assets and taxes from the government. Victoria Collier has grown her law practice and financial services practice by providing excellent customer satisfaction with personalized wealth protection plans.

About Victoria Collier

Victoria L. Collier, CELA founded The Estate & Asset Protection Law Firm to serve the legal needs of retiring individuals. Victoria is also Co-Founder of Red Feather Financial. At both firms WE BELIEVE that people should not have to lose everything they’ve worked a lifetime to earn and that every person is an individual who deserves respect and the highest quality of life possible, regardless of age or ability. We also believe that privacy and protection are the keys to personal peace.

Victoria enlisted in the U.S. Air Force during Desert Storm, 1989-1995, and also served in the U.S. Army Reserves, 1Lt. 2001-2004, JAG Corps. Victoria is a national expert on the VA Wartime Pension for veterans and their widows who need additional assistance with activities of daily living and helping them qualify for and receive tax-free income from the VA to pay for it. Victoria graduated from Valdosta State University with a B.A. in Psychology and then University of Nebraska, College of Law. In 2014, Victoria was awarded with the Alumni Master Award from the University of Nebraska.

Victoria is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) through The National Elder Law Foundation and has been named as the only attorney in Georgia as “Fellow” of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Victoria was appointed by Governor Perdue to the Georgia Council on Aging, 2010 – 2016 and was awarded Dekalb County Veteran of the Year, 2013. She is the author of 47 Secret Veterans Benefits for Seniors; Paying for Long Term Care – Financial Help for Wartime Veterans: The VA Aid & Attendance Benefit. Victoria has co-authored several books: Blooper Episodes in Estate Planning, Don’t Go Broke in a Nursing Home, and Protect Your IRA: Avoid the 5 Common Mistakes. Most notably, Victoria co-authored the National Best Seller, The Road to Success, with Jack Canfield, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

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