Powers of Attorney
Medical Power of Attorney
A Medical Power of Attorney allows you to name someone as your agent to act on your behalf to make health care decisions for you, in accordance with your wishes, if you are unable to make these decisions for yourself. The Medical Power of Attorney takes effect if you become unable to make your own health care decisions and this fact is certified in writing by a physician.
Statutory Durable Power of Attorney
A Statutory Durable Power of Attorney, otherwise known as a financial power of attorney, allows you to name someone as your agent to act on your behalf with respect to your property and financial matters.
If a Statutory Durable Power of Attorney is not executed before the principal becomes incapacitated, then the principal’s family may have to have a guardianship proceeding over their loved one, which is an expensive process, so that a person can be appointed by a court with jurisdiction to manage the person’s financial matters.