there are differences between a durable power of attorney and a power of attorney that many people are not aware of. however, power of attorney only lasts so long. therefore, it is wise to assign durable power of attorney for both financial and health issues. yet even someone with durable power of attorney must follow the wishes expressed by the principal. when it comes to financial matters, the person with durable power of attorney must abide by the terms of the person’s will. power of attorney requirements and regulations vary from state to state, so anyone inquiring into it should check state law and consult with a licensed attorney.

a durable power of attorney for health care names a person (often referred to as an “agent”) to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are no longer able to make health care decisions for yourself. this document is also known as a health care proxy or health care power of attorney. if you have another document such as a living will, your agent will use that document to guide decisions made on your behalf. it is critical to discuss your values and overall goals for medical care with your agent(s). every adult should complete a durable power of attorney for health care, including younger and healthy individuals, because they may lose decision-making capability due to an injury or unexpected illness. clinicians caring for patients who are not capable of making decisions and have no health care agent must follow their state law about the selection of individual decision makers (often referred to as “surrogates”).

the commission on law and aging has released a booklet offering a simple durable power of attorney for health care, designed to meet the legal requirements in nearly all states. the aba commission provides a resource list of many of those guides. clarifying one’s values and goals of treatment so that a health care agent, as well as health care providers, will implement them when the time comes is not a legal task, at heart—it is a communication exercise. a unique feature of the new form is that it complies with state legal requirements for a valid power of attorney for health care in almost every state. only one other nationally distributed health care advance directive has sought to meet the legal requirements in all or most states.

in such an event, the agent selected will make health care decisions on their behalf and instruct medical staff to the patient’s wishes. this document must be issued by the private party who wishes to appoint a specific health care agent with the power to deliver or withhold consent regarding his or her medical treatment when incapacitated. the illinois health care agent that the principal wishes to name as the person to make medical decisions when incapacitated must be identified. this appointment template can be used to nominate the health care agent for this role (by checking the appropriate statement) or solidify that at the time of this document’s execution the principal doe not necessarily endorse the health care agent for the role of court-appointed guardian by leaving the checkbox statement unmarked. the authority to represent the principal’s medical preferences before illinois physicians will need an event to trigger the effect of this document (which is to grant such authority to the health care agent named above). only one of the effect statements may be initialed by the principal to apply this definition to the appointment.

the first area in this document will deliver some important information related to appointing a power of attorney. there will be a few sections dedicated to enabling you to fully describe in what areas of your life, you expect the agent to represent your interests with principal power. if you wish to approve the agent to represent you in the area defined by one of these items, then you must initial the blank space that precedes it.

a medical power of attorney allows a person to handle someone else’s health care decisions only in the chance that he or she may not be able to think for themselves. in the chance one (1) agent is not able to act, the other will be able to stand in their place. by law, medical staff will request for the document to be shown.

a power of attorney document lets you choose a trusted friend or relative to help you with your finances and/or health care decisions. the trusted friend or relative you choose to help you with your finances and/or health care decisions is called your “agent.” you should sign your durable power of attorney document in front of a notary. if you cannot find a notary, you can sign it in front of two “disinterested” witnesses instead.

connecticut law about powers of attorney these links connect to resources available and are provided with the understanding that they represent only a starting point for research. durable power of attorney – 2007-r-0372 you asked (1) whether there is any state oversight of people granted durable power of attorney and (2) what sanctions might apply if a person granted this power took advantage of the grantor, for example by misappropriating his property. power of attorney – revocative – 2005-r-0669 you asked how a person might revoke a power of attorney? power of attorney – mental capacity – 2002-r-0094 you asked about the mental capacity requirements for someone who wishes to execute a power of attorney.