Power of Attorney

Health Care Power of Attorney

A Healthcare Power of Attorney permits you to select an agent to make critical decisions regarding your healthcare if you are incapacitated and cannot act for yourself. If you are in critical condition due to an accident or disease, your agent can communicate your desires to medical personnel to assure that your care reflects your intentions under the circumstances.

A Healthcare Power of Attorney is more extensive and replaces what historically has been called a Living Will. A Living Will is only operative if your ultimate recovery is hopeless, where as a Healthcare Power of Attorney is also effective when your health is not so dire, yet you are unable to make your own decisions.

• A Healthcare Power of Attorney generally describes certain life prolonging treatments. You select which treatment you do or do not want applied in the event you are suffering from a terminal illness or are in a permanent vegetative state.

Financial Power of Attorney

A Financial Power of Attorney allows you to select an agent to act for you in the event you are incapacitated for any reason.

• For example, if you are hospitalized and physically cannot write checks to pay your monthly bills, your agent can keep your financial life in order until you have recuperated.