Living Wills / Power of Attorney

A living will or power of attorney document allows a person to dictate what medical decisions can be made on their behalf in the event they are unable to communicate their wishes, and who will have authority to make those decisions. Using a living will, a person can specify what types of emergency medical intervention and life saving techniques they do and do not want to be undertaken on their behalf. In addition, power of attorney can enable a family member or trusted friend to manage finances in a time of need. The individual entrusted to act on the behalf of another is known as the agent, or attorney-in-fact; whereas the person granting the authority is generally referred to as the principal. In this section, you will find information on how to draft a power of attorney, when to use them and the various rules associated with the creation and enforcement of each.