A Des Moines Power Of Attorney Puts Your Important Decisions Into Legal Documents
Establishing a power of attorney is commonly referred to as an advance directive. It provides you with a means to clearly state your wishes regarding financial decisions and lifesaving medical measures in the event that you become incapacitated and cannot make these decisions on your own.
At Janssen Law, PLC, in Des Moines, attorney Dallas Janssen incorporates powers of attorney for health care and financial matters into the comprehensive estate plans that he develops for his clients in Polk County and across central Iowa.
An estate plan that was created a few years ago may no longer reflect your wishes. Mr. Janssen can review an existing estate plan and amend the power of attorney or any other component to ensure that your wishes are current. Contact the firm to schedule a meeting.
Help Your Loved Ones Make The Right POA Decisions
You may have definite opinions about the level of lifesaving medical care you wish to receive if you are injured or become seriously ill. Similarly, certain financial decisions may be necessary at a time when you are no longer of sound mind to make them.
If you do not leave clear instructions and fail to designate a health care proxy or someone who has the authority to make financial decisions on your behalf, your loved ones will have to navigate complex legal proceedings to make these decisions for you. When you establish a power of attorney, your loved ones can feel confident that someone you trust is making decisions based on your best interests.
Power Of Attorney And HIPAA Laws In Iowa
Providing a loved one with power of attorney allows that person to make health care decisions that follow your direct wishes. However, sometimes involving a third party in your medical decisions can become complicated. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) protects your medical information. Under HIPAA laws, your physician has a duty to keep your information confidential and may not be able to tell a third party about your condition. This could complicate your power of attorney directives.
At Janssen Law, PLC, attorney Dallas Janssen can help you navigate all your estate planning concerns. He will guide you as you establish your durable power of attorney to preserve your wishes when you are unable to speak for yourself. He is dedicated to protecting your best interests.
Making A Durable Power Of Attorney
A durable power of attorney gives someone the authority to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf, even if you become incapacitated. Iowa laws generally consider a financial power of attorney to be durable unless you say otherwise. However, including a durable power of attorney in your health care directives is essential to protect your wishes.
The person to whom you entrust this duty – often called an “agent” – is responsible for supervising your medical care and following your requests. This agent will be working closely with your doctors on your behalf, as it is essential that they have all the medical information needed to make the right decisions.
Two important elements to establish a durable power of attorney include:
- Waiving your HIPAA confidentiality rights
- Giving your doctor permission to discuss medical information with your agent
A proper estate plan depends on the language used in the document. Mr. Janssen can help you craft your estate plan to protect your rights and wishes while still giving your agent the power to act for you.
Meet With An Experienced Des Moines POA Lawyer
As with all other aspects of estate planning, this is not something that you can afford to postpone until later in life. Attorney Dallas welcomes the opportunity to answer your questions regarding establishing powers of attorney or any other estate planning matter. Call him at 844-879-2839 or contact him online to schedule a consultation.