Everyone should have Powers of Attorney in Pennsylvania - but why is that? Many attorneys consider Powers of Attorney documents (“POAs”) to be of even greater importance than a Will. This is because, in the absence of a POA, families may need to pursue a guardianship if someone becomes incapable of making decisions for themselves. Guardianships can be expensive, costing thousands of dollars, and they still may not accurately reflect the person's wishes regarding their chosen guardian's actions. While there are certain legal provisions that allow family members to make medical decisions on behalf of their loved ones without a guardianship or POA, these laws are inadequate substitutes.
More specifically there are two major types of POAs in PA: General Durable Powers of Attorney (i.e. the “Durable Power Of Attorney For Financial Decisions”) and the Durable Healthcare Powers of Attorney ( i.e. the “Power Of Attorney For Health Care”). I discuss both in posts made specifically for each kind of document on this site -- or call us today at (267) 471-0849 and we will be happy to answer any of your questions over the phone.