Estate Planning Arizona
   Living Trust Arizona

Choosing a Medical Power of Attorney

We all hope to live a healthy life and be fully conscious of the decisions we make. There is a very real possibility at some point in your life you will not be able to make critical decisions due to an accident or illness and will need someone else to make those decisions for you.

If you haven't written instructions naming medical decision makers for you, family members, medical staff and courts could approve actions not in your wishes.

The following are tips in choosing your Medical Power of Attorney (PoA):

  1. Use your brain, not your heart in selecting PoA's. You need someone who can make decisions based on what you want, not what they would want. Your PoA's may face scrutiny from family members for the decisions they make.

  2. Prioritize your PoA's. Having co-Powers of Attorney can lead to disagreements and delays in taking action. The preferable method is listing a first, then second and finally a third PoA.

  3. While location of your PoA's isn't critical it is beneficial, especially during a prolonged illness, to have PoA's who are local.

  4. Talk to your potential PoA's about your basic wishes medically (which medical procedures, medications used, etc). Most Power of Attorney documents are accompanied by a Living Will which states your intentions regarding the use of life support equipment when two doctors have stated that you have no chance of surviving without machine assistance and you are brain dead. This document removes the toughest decision from your PoA's.

While there other activities sounds more enjoyable than creating this type of plan, your family will be spared time and stress with the legal structure in place to make care for you an easier process.

Written by Jamie Kahn
Owner of Four Peaks Planning, Inc.
(480) 229-6220
Read more articles:

Choosing Medical Power of Attorneys
Choosing Guardians for Children
Community Property in Arizona
Revocable Living Trusts to Protect Your Family
Estate Planning for Pets



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This site is part of Four Peaks Planning, Inc., a firm dedicated to quality and affordable estate plans for Arizona families.

Phone:  (480) 229-6220
Address:
2529 S Evergreen St
Tempe, AZ 85282
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We want you to make a confident choice in choosing your estate planner. Feel free to contact any of the references below.
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I have known Jamie for several years and know him to be a knowledgeable and professional estate planner. His detail and care in focusing on children and making sure assets are transferred into the trust is, by far, what makes him the person to handle my client's estates and financial needs. I also like the way Jamie becomes a great team member for my clients.

I've seen him sit with couples and groups bringing an ease to a very uncomfortable subject for most - dying and money.

All these reasons are why Jamie was my choice for an estate planner and for my family and friends.

-- Jerilyn L. Evans-Graff - Accountant and Owner, Evans-Graff, Inc., Mesa, AZ
(480) 730-0474 - Daytime
www.accountant-phoenix.com
Phone:  (480) 229-6220
Address:
2529 S Evergreen St
Tempe, AZ 85282



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