By the year 2025, it is projected that people over the age of 60 will constitute more than 25 percent of the population. But, many in this fast-growing group do not plan at all. This is often due to the mistaken assumption that if they are not wealthy or have fixed or limited assets that there is no reason to bother with a will. Others simply don’t know how or where to begin. This is evidenced by the fact that 70% of adults in this country die without a will.
Many Tennesseans think they’ve already made their plans known, but they don’t know that because of recent changes in the law, their old living wills may not be adequate. Many more Tennesseans haven’t even planned ahead with any living will, or as it is known now, ‘advance directive.’ Knoxvillians have an opportunity to learn how to make their wishes known at the Knoxville Bar Association’s LawTalk series. The LawTalk series are free educational programs which offer the community an opportunity to learn more about planning for their own security and that of their family and loved ones. The purpose of this series is not only to educate people but to emphasize how very important it is to plan ahead.
The law affects many aspects of people’s lives and the purpose of the 19th Annual LawTalk series is to make general legal information more accessible to the community. Both sessions of the LawTalk program will be held on the following dates: Friday, November 6, 2015 at O’Connor Senior Center (611 Winona Street) and Saturday, November 7, 2015 at Fellowship Church (8000 Middlebrook Pike). Free parking is available at both locations and handout material will be provided. The “Wills & Estate Planning for Everyone” will be held from 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. and the “Legal Protection for the Elderly, the Disabled & their Caregivers” will be held from 11:00 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Experienced local attorneys will provide information regarding planning for incapacity and death, which can happen to anyone at any age. Attendees will learn about “special needs” planning and why should it be considered when planning for disabled family members. In addition, the speakers will explain who determines legal mental incapacity and how does that determination affect a person with dementia. The program will discuss how financial products which are marketed to seniors and important information about your power of attorney. Details on each session can be found online at www.knoxbar.org.
The more information people have about these topics, the better they will be able to plan and implement decisions for their own circumstances and the care of their loved ones.
Program Partners:
East Tennessee Personal Care Service and Knoxville Bar Foundation
To register or for more information, please call the Knoxville Bar Association at 522-6522 or register online at http://www.knoxbar.org/.