If you end up seriously ill or injured and unable to make your own medical decisions, who will step in on your behalf? Without a healthcare power of attorney (HPOA) in place, the decisions could fall on the wrong shoulders, leaving them guessing on how to best proceed. Fortunately, you can appoint someone to make your healthcare decisions by creating a health care power of attorney – and we’re here to help. Whenever you’re ready to create your health care power of attorney documents, reach out to our team, so we can help you move through all of the steps.
A health care power of attorney is an advance directive document that legally appoints someone to make your healthcare decisions on your behalf. This document goes beyond the end-of-life directives in a living will, ensuring you have proper representation if temporarily or permanently incapacitated.
Unlike basic power of attorney documents, the health care variant does not expire when you become incapacitated. In fact, the health care power of attorney only comes into effect if you’re unable to make your own care decisions. Otherwise, you maintain full control of your medical decisions.
When creating the document, you’ll get to choose who to appoint as your attorney-in-fact aka power of attorney. You’ll want to choose someone who you can trust to honor your wishes every step of the way. Discuss your decision with your loved ones to find a healthcare agent willing and able to serve in this role.
Your health care power of attorney is only valid if you abide by all the legal requirements in South Carolina, such as:
You must demonstrate contractual capacity when creating the legal document
Your medical power of attorney must be signed in front of two adult witnesses
You need to have the power of attorney properly notarized upon completion
By working with an attorney to create your health care power of attorney, you can make sure it meets all requirements.
Since you never know what health problems could come your way, it’s important to get your health care power of attorney created as soon as possible. If you’d like help moving through the steps, please feel free to reach out to our office for a free consultation. During your visit, you will meet with Susan Shipman Miranda, Attorney at Law, and learn about the process of creating your advanced directives.
We are here to help! Give us a call at 864.760.0221 or email us at orders@smirandalaw.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
