Keeping Safe and Being Prepared: Our COVID19 Policies
Learn More

Estate Planning and Elder Law Attorney | Coulson Elder Law

Get Help Right Away

Call Today: 618-632-7000 or 314-567-9292

Email Today: info@coulsonelderlaw.com

  • Home
  • Our Services
    • Alzheimer’s Planning
    • Asset Preservation Planning
    • Estate Planning
    • Medicaid Eligibility
    • Special Needs Planning
    • Trust and Estate Administration
    • VA Benefits Planning
  • News & Videos
    • Video Series
      • Coronavirus Preparedness
      • Asset Preservation Planning
      • Common Estate Planning Mistakes
      • Dealing With Alzheimer’s
      • Financial Exploitation of Elders
      • Handling Difficult Conversations with Seniors
      • Married Couples and Medicaid
      • Medicaid Application Process
      • Medicaid Look-Back Rule and Transfer Penalties
      • Nursing Home Admission and Care
      • Veterans Pension Benefits
      • What You Can and Can’t Keep with Medicaid
    • Weekly Newsletter
  • Alzheimer’s Guide
  • Presentations
  • Hear From Our Clients
    • Testimonials
    • Share Your Experience
  • About
    • About Us
    • Meet Our Staff
    • Partners & Resources
    • About Our Fees
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Email Us
    • Find Our Offices
    • Refer a Friend

Can Someone Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Still Execute Legal Documents?

Whether a person knows and can understand the basic things that relate to legal documents is what determines their ability to execute them. The interesting thing is that competency is measured at the time that somebody signs.

Why is this so important?

People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s typically have good days and bad days, or even good times of day and bad times of day. As long as you have the discussion about a legal document and it’s signed while they are having a good day, or good time of day, and they understand the basic things that relate to that document, then they meet the test of competency to sign that document.

In this Elder Law Minute, Wes Coulson, Southern Illinois Elder Law attorney, discusses an important topic covered in The Alzheimer’s Guide: Practical Advice for Families, Caregivers and Professionals and how a person’s competency level is determined relative to their ability to execute legal documents when diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.

Can Someone Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Still Execute Legal Documents?

Transcript:

Hi, I’m Wes Coulson and this is your Elder Law Minute. Today’s video is going to be one in our series of videos on topics that either come from or relate to things that we cover in our Alzheimer’s Guide. What I’m going to talk about today is whether someone who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can still execute legal documents.

The truth of the matter is that it depends. The earlier someone is in the diagnosis, the more likely it is that they’re going to meet the test of having sufficient competency. Now, competency depends on the legal document. Basically, it’s a question of whether you know and can understand the basic things that relate to that document, the things you would need to know for that document. The interesting thing is that competency is measured at the time that somebody signs.

Why is that so important? Well, because people with Alzheimer’s typically have good days and bad, better in the morning, sundowning in the afternoon, and as long as you have the discussion about a document and it’s signed while somebody is having a good time on a good day, they meet the test of competency to sign that document. Thanks.

For more related information on Alzheimer’s, visit these articles:

  • Alzheimer’s and Unpaid Family Caregivers
  • Alzheimer’s and Driving
  • Alzheimer’s Disease and the Validity of Wills and Trusts

“Your Trusted Advisor on the Elder Care Journey”

Coulson Elder Law is dedicated to providing families in the St. Louis area with their Elder Law needs. Our practice areas include Asset Preservation Planning, Veterans Benefits, Medicaid Eligibility, Alzheimer’s Planning, Special Needs Planning, Estate Planning and more. We understand the financial challenges you may face as you and your loved ones grow older. At Coulson Elder Law, our clients’ well-being is our number one priority. For immediate help, call (877)995-6876 or Contact Us and we will get in touch as soon as possible.

iStock_000009804646_ExtraSmall

For Immediate Help

If you or a loved one needs immediate help with a planning matter or legal issue, please contact us, and we will get back to you promptly.

Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Call Us
618-632-7000
314-567-9292

Connect with Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Join us for a FREE Workshop

Free Workshops

If you have reached age 65, there's about a 45% chance that you will eventually need long-term care.

Join us for one of our highly informative and FREE workshops and find out how you can protect your family's hard-earned life savings.

Visit Free Workshops for more information.

Newsletter

Subscribe to our free weekly Newsletter and receive the latest news, updates and videos straight to your inbox!

Handling the Difficult Conversation with a Loved One about Facility Placement: Five Tips for Success

Tip #1 - Practice makes Perfect: The Value of Role Playing

Tip #2 - Rome Wasn't Built in a Day: Know When to Say When

Tip #3 - Ask, Don't Tell: The Art of Gentle Persuasion

Tip #4 - Writing Things Down Makes Remembering Easier

Tip #5 - Be Brave, Be Strong and Don't Give Up

More News & Videos

  • Alzheimer's Planning (81)
  • Asset Preservation Planning (147)
  • Coronavirus Preparedness Series (9)
  • Coulson Elder Law (11)
  • Elder Law Minute Video (352)
  • Estate Planning (104)
  • Health Care Planning/Medicare (62)
  • Medicaid Eligibility (125)
  • News & Videos (394)
  • Special Needs Planning (28)
  • Trust Administration (3)
  • Veterans Benefits (51)
Front office building of Coulson Elder Law
  • Directions to our office

774 Sunset Blvd Suite 200
O'Fallon, IL 62269

IL Phone: (618) 632-7000
MO Phone: (314) 567-9292
Toll-free: (877) 995-6876
Fax: (618) 632-7333
Email: info@coulsonelderlaw.com

  • Wes Coulson
  • News and Videos
  • Weekly Newsletter
  • Brochures
  • Free Workshops
  • Presentations
  • Hear From Our Clients
  • Partners & Resources
  • Legal Disclaimer

Copyright © 2022 · Wesley J. Coulson, Coulson Elder Law, LLC