When it comes to legal affairs, most of it is foreign to us and lets face it, boring and mundane. We would like to get over having to deal with whatever brought us to this topic as fast as we possibly can.
For some reason, we relate it to being painful and unpleasant, often along the same parallel as a visit to the dentist. Blame it on the hard to understand, sometimes foreign sounding language. We sometimes fear what we do not understand.
Two legal documents you should really commit to getting are a Power of Attorney for Health Care and a General Durable Power of Attorney. Each instrument is different in what it pertains to and both should be part of your permanent family records. Lets examine the Power of Attorney for Health Care or Health Care Power of Attorney as it is also called. The information contained in this material is useful during a medical emergency. If by some chance, you are unable to voice your wishes due to being incompetent during the crisis this paperwork will so to say, speak for you. Usually, an agent or agents (family members or close friends) are asked to review the contents and if they agree with the concept, will sign it and then you will need to deliver it to your primary clinic for placement in your patient file. It is complied of many variables that may occur in a time when you cannot talk to a physician and give him/her your intentions. What to do if you need supplemental medicines or life- saving measures are outlined in the document. Your physician and agent(s) will be able to make sure your desires are met.
The General Durable Power of Attorney works somewhat along the same lines, although in a different area. It gives permission to your assigned agent to make financial decisions while you cannot. Financial matters such as paying bills from your account and depositing monies while you are unable to do so helps keep your finances up-to-date. Again, your agent(s) listed will be able to ensure your mortgage payment is made along with any other monthly invoices from heat, electric and so on.
As already mentioned, these documents only become effective when you are in an incapacitated state. Choose your agents carefully. Usually, two agents are asked to sign the paperwork. The reason being in case one of the named is unavailable at the time the legal instrument needs to be put into place, the other one ( or back-up agent) can take over in implementing the paperwork. Obviously, these people should be trustworthy. Once you regain your senses, so to speak, the Power of Attorney becomes invalid. You may keep the same agents throughout your life-time, or you can change agents at any time.
Some hospitals have generic Health Care Powers of Attorney available to their patients, and you should check with your bank or other financial establishment to see if they provide a General Durable Power of Attorney. These are perfectly legal representations and will suffice for your needs. If you need to change agents in either Power of Attorney, you may do so yourself by destroying the old one and filling out a complete brand new one. Do not try to erase, white-out or line out any of the information. Make sure your new agents read everything to familiarize themselves with the paperwork, sign and date where necessary and keep a copy for themselves. If you are still not comfortable with doing it yourself, then seek out professional help. You may find it not as painful as you imagined.
Resources: Attorneys A,W,L,S,S,&S, S.C., J. Edison Woods, Jr., Attorney at Law, Licensed to practice law in WI.
SandiJean – “2 “Powerful” Documents Everyone Should Have”, Associated Content on Yahoo