A power of attorney is a legal documentation approach that enables someone else to act in your place. A power of attorney for money and property gives another person (known as an agent or attorney-in-fact) the permission to make property, financial, and other legal decisions on behalf of the principle.

A health care power of attorney allows another person (referred to as an agent or attorney-in-fact) the ability to make medical and other legal decisions on behalf of the principle. While other jurisdictions call a health care power of attorney a “health care proxy,” a “health care directive,” a “advance directive,” or a “medical power of attorney,” we will use the term “health care power of attorney” throughout this Guide.

A principal can delegate extensive or narrow legal jurisdiction to an agent. In the case of a principle’s illness or disability, or in legal transactions when the principal cannot be present to sign relevant legal documents, a power of attorney is regularly employed.

Only the principal’s life is covered by powers of attorney. The principal’s physical or mental incapacity is not a problem for a durable power of attorney. A durable power of attorney is only valid if the principle is alive and unable to make choices for himself or herself

The ‘American Legal Documents’ Advanced Health Care Directive form allows you to appoint someone you trust to make healthcare choices if you lose your ability to do so. This might be a family member or close friend. You may ensure that healthcare professionals follow your preferences by choosing a healthcare agent. As your medical condition evolves, your agent can decide how your desires will be implemented. Hospitals, physicians, and other healthcare professionals must abide by your agent’s choices as if they were your own. You have complete control over how much or how little authority you give your health care agent. You can delegate all or part of your healthcare choices to your agent

The General Power of Attorney from ‘American Legal Documents’ grants someone else decision-making permission to act on your behalf. In contrast, a Limited Power of Attorney delegated only limited authority.

The Limited Power of Attorney from ‘American Legal Documents’ permits someone to act in your place for the specific objects listed in a power of attorney. Compared to a General Power of Attorney, which delegates wide jurisdiction over your financial matters, a General Power of Attorney is more limited.