Being without family or close friends who'll see that things after my death are honestly done, makes me afraid to choose the wrong estate lawyer to create my Will and Trust, plus an executor and other persons needed after death. I'm hoping those in my same situation who already found an honest estate lawyer and executor (whom they feel they can trust), will share the contacts with me? I read somewhere this:
"Take care, because this individual (or firm) will control your money when you can’t, and you take a big risk if you don’t know who they are and haven’t thoroughly vetted them."
Anticipating my biggest thanks for your response! :)
Or, you may have a disabling stroke that disables you, affects your ability to communicate and causes you to require 24/7 care.
You need a PoA or guardian now, before it becomes too late for you to assign one. Plan for the worst, hope for the best.
FYI you fit into a category called "Elder Orphan". This term will be useful for you when doing internet searches.
What you need to watch now is a financial manager of your money who is making his business by selling certain annuities and financial stocks and bonds dependent wholly on how much of a percentage he gets in profit for his business.
And good Trust and Estate Attorney in your area (ask around for recommendations, including on your local Nextdoor) can guide you to a licensed Fiduciary who can manage your money as POA when you are unable to (for payment). They work through the courts and are assigned all the time for those without family or for family perpetrating fraud.
One more hint. You can make an appointment with your banker, as they will often adminstrate for Trusts as well.
If you read this site I must tell you that you are not in as much danger from any licensed attorney, who would lose his license for wrong doing, as you would be from greedy relatives, and THAT'S for certain.
Getting yourself into a place where you don't trust CPAs or Attorneys or other licensed people is sinking into a kind of paranoia for which there cannot be answers. Not to be trusting, to have lost all trust isn't something we can restore for you with a trip to Lourdes. You will have to trust but verify, as Mr. Reagan said.
As you our helping you? I live in San Francisco and know more than a FEW excellent Trust and Estate Attorneys. That doesn't help you. Nor can Margaret recommend someone in Australia for you. We are caregivers and regular "folks" from all over the world with our OWN questions, and we can only wish you the very best.