Make you Living Will, Power of Attorney, and Health Care Proxy!

[PRICEPLUS]

I posted a thread way back in November of 2006 about these three important documents. The laws in your state may differ somewhat but here we go.

If you become injured/impaired and you need someone to make medical decisions for you, you need a health care proxy. No one likes to think about end of life decisions but you have to face reality so you need a Living Will.

Durable Power of Attorney may vary from state tot state. Here in New York you can designate someone(s) to conduct all your business affairs should you become unable to do so. Be careful who you choose as they have access to all your finances and will be able to have unfettered control. Your Wife?Husband should have a Power of Attorney for you and you for them. You may also designate a child if you trust them.

You can use a lawyer. You can do it yourself and have it checked by a lawyer. You can do it yourself. (In New York you can do your own. )

Take the time to get these three items together and keep in a safe place.

[FLA]

I would add if your state uses MOLSTs, they are a more detailed advance directive than a proxy and they include the name of the health care proxy.

[james.hendrickson]

Just briefly, you can probably templates of these documents on the web if you want to avoid shelling out money for an attorney.

[creditcardfree]

If you are military, active or reserve, use your JAG to get these documents completed for free. And update them for free too, when something changes.

[FLA]

you never need to pay for a health care proxy or MOLST. MD offices, hospitals and likely online by state all offer these forms. They are simple to complete and you do not need a lawyer.

Make many copies, the hospital needs new copies every time you go in, all your doctors and your lawyer should have a copy, the people who are your proxy need a copy and I actually shrunk my proxy down and carry it in my purse in case something happens to me when I cannot speak for myself.