Powers of attorney · Jorgen Stenson
Powers of attorney, and a health care directive
A power of attorney lets someone you trust pay bills, deal with the bank and talk to the insurer. A health care directive does the same with doctors. Both must be signed while the person can still understand them. If your parent can, it's one of the most useful hours a family spends. If they can't, we explain what comes next.
A financial power of attorney with a named back-up
A health care directive that says who decides, and what matters to your parent
A medical records release so the family can talk to the doctor
A signing meeting with witnesses and a notary
A short guide for the person who will have to use the papers
What comes in the set
Written together, so the papers agree with one another.
The financial power of attorney
Names who can pay bills, file taxes and manage accounts, and what they can't do without asking.
The health care directive
Names who speaks for your parent if they can't, and records the wishes they've told you about.
A medical records release
So your family can talk with the doctor's office before anything has gone wrong.
A named back-up
So the papers still work if the first person you chose can't or won't act.
About signing for a parent
My dad has some memory loss. Can he still sign?
The question is whether he understands what he is signing on the day. We talk with him alone first. If there is real doubt, we say so and go through the other options with you.
Will the bank accept it?
Banks sometimes want their own form or a second look. We draft with that in mind, and will write to the bank with you if it hesitates.
What does it cost?
Documents for one person are a flat fee, shown on the How it works page, with what it includes. Court filing and recording fees are separate.
An hour now saves a court case later
If your parent can still sign, we can usually meet within the week, at home if that's easier.