During these times of the COVID-19 pandemic, If you become incapacitated, who will take care of your bills for you? If you’ve passed a durable power of attorney, your agents are legally able to speak on your behalf. The main types are health care and financial power of attorneys.
A financial power of attorney grants someone legal authority to help you manage your money and property without breaking any laws or regulations. This document can be effective immediately or only once you’ve been determined by your doctors to be incapacitated, such as if you have COVID and are no longer responsive. A financial power of can handle a number of tasks for you, such as writing checks, managing bank accounts, and collecting rent among various other things.
A healthcare power of attorney under Mississippi Code Title 41, Chapter 41, Sections 201 to 229, allows you to appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care if you can’t take care of it yourself for one reason or another. “Living wills” are often combined with or accompanied by “advance healthcare directives” (also known as DNRs) that inform your doctor of the type of treatments you do or don’t want. For example, you can specify if you want life support measures to be taken. Getting a family member or friend to take care of health-related tasks can give you peace of mind, but be sure to let them know what you want beforehand. If you don’t assign an agent to draft this legal document, then some other family member or close friend will have to be added as an agent on your behalf. This person would then have the responsibility of making decisions for you if necessary.
Contact us today if you have any questions or to set up a power of attorney!
