Legal Tools: Financial and Medical Powers of Attorney
Decisions Made. Decisions Honored.
Contact us to keep control of decisions regarding:
- Medical and financial powers of attorneys and agency
- Living wills
- Health care directives and proxies
- Guardianship
- Conservatorship
- Representative Payee
A well drafted medical or financial power of attorney is the first line of defense against the unexpected. Getting your powers of attorney is one of the few protective actions you can take before a medical or financial crisis occurs. Yet many people overlook the utility of powers of attorney and deem them not as important as “getting our Wills done.” Any spouse or caretaker child who has been denied access to bank accounts to pay bills or to medical records needed for a disability application, can tell you that powers of attorney are a necessity.
We believe that government has no business deciding if you need pain medicine or a tube in your stomach. These are highly personal and difficult decisions that should be made by you, not a distraught child, not a distant nephew, and definitely not the State. Naming an Agent and stating your desires in a medical power of attorney helps you to retain control.
By executing a power of attorney when you have the mental capacity and the time to think through difficult choices, you are retaining control of your life for a time when you may be temporarily or permanently disabled. This planning benefits you and eases the burden on your loved ones who will be taking care of you and your affairs. A power of attorney not only tells your Agent what to do, but gives him or her the authority to do it.
A good power of attorney will be general enough to authorize your Agent to do anything he or she must do to protect your rights and wishes, but not so broad as to be vague. A power of attorney should be specific enough for the hospital, government or financial institution to be convinced of and rely upon the authority you have given to your Agent.
Attorney Jean Galloway Ball and her staff of elder law attorneys have the experience and compassion to assess your situation from every perspective, no matter where in your life you are or for whom you are caring. Because we specialize in elder law and estate planning, we meet every day with families young and old, and individuals like you who need help with legal and related financial and healthcare decisions. Through our ties by reputation and experience with the geriatric care and elder law support organizations in Virginia and Maryland, we can help you with your legal issues and put you in touch with others who may provide the mental, social or physical support you need and seek.
Our attorneys can advise you of the different kinds of powers of attorney. We can explain to you the differences between a living will and a living Trust, and provide answers to questions you may have regarding a health care or advance medical directive or a HIPAA release. Is this power of attorney effective for selling my house or managing my shop? Does it expire? Is it effective if I move? What are my options if my Agent turns out to be untrustworthy? We have the answers to your questions.
Contact us to schedule an appointment to take charge of these important decisions.
