A critical element of any estate plan, or of any legal plan, is a
Living Will and/or a Durable Power of Attorney.
A Living Will is a written document that expresses a principal's
wishes and instructions for healthcare and healthcare directives when
the principal is determined to be incompetent and has an end stage
medical condition.
A Durable Power of Attorney for Healthcare is a written document that
names a surrogate to make healthcare decisions for an individual who is
no longer competent.
Any individual facing difficult healthcare decisions should have
these documents in place.
On January 29, 2007 Act No. 169 of 2006, 20 Pa. C.S.A. § 5421 et
seq., went into effect. Act 169 substantially changes the law as it
relates to Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Healthcare.
The law also provides for the appointment of a Healthcare Agent in
absence of an Attorney-in-Fact or a Guardian.
Contact an attorney familiar with Act 169 to see how it may affect
you.
