Advanced Care Planning, Power of Attorney, Guardianship Guidance & Support

It's extremely important for everyone to have established Advance Directives (Living Will) and to have appointed a Power of Attorney for Health Care (very different than a financial POA).  You do not need a lawyer to help you execute these documents.  Oftentimes General Powers of Attorney do not sufficiently identify a primary proxy and secondary proxies.  Anyone may use VA Form 10-0137 (available for free download on the web) to create an Advance Directive.  It requires only two witnesses and may be endorsed by a Notary Public.  The form is valid in all 50 states and you do not have to be a citizen or a veteran to use the form.  Dr. Hilburn can coach you through execution of this form if you would like assistance or guidance.  A Power of Attorney is very different from Guardianship, which is the purview of Probate Court and requires two doctors and a petition to the court usually handled by an elder law attorney.