
Medical Powers of Attorney
Medical powers of attorney allow a trusted friend or family member (referred to as the Patient Advocate) to help manage your medical care when you cannot act for yourself. These durable powers of attorney are effective when you lack legal capacity.
The best medical powers of attorney include an Advance Health Care Directive to provide instructions to your Patient Advocate about what level of care you want to receive. They are an essential part of a properly drafted estate plan.
Few parents think about it, but when you send you children off to college, one of the most important things you can do is put a durable medical power of attorney in place before he or she leaves the nest. That way, you, as a parent, are able to obtain medical records and make medical decisions if your son or daughter needs your help.