Mooresville Medical Power of Attorney Lawyer

Mooresville Medical Power of Attorney

A medical power of attorney is an important part of estate planning. Essentially, it allows an individual to name someone they trust to make healthcare decisions on their behalf if something happens that prevents them from making decisions themselves. Hiring a Mooresville medical power of attorney lawyer to draft this document is imperative to ensure that it holds up legally and stands the test of time.

Thomas & Webber is a compassionate estate planning law firm that understands the need for careful and patient estate planning, including wills, living wills, and advance directives. Knowing that your family will have what they need in the event you can’t make medical decisions for yourself is invaluable. Our attorneys are sensitive to this, and our first-class service is incomparable in the Mooresville area.

What a Medical Power of Attorney Accomplishes

North Carolina specifically and legally recognizes the right of an individual to a peaceful and natural death and their right to appoint someone to make such decisions regarding such matters on their behalf. Having a medical power of attorney for this purpose is the most common reason most people seek one.

A medical power of attorney is a powerful document that should be carefully considered beforehand. It appoints someone of your choosing to make medical decisions if you become unable to do so in the event of an accident, such as a car accident. Despite this, research has found that only about 18% to 36% of US adults have a medical power of attorney.

A Medical Power of Attorney Continued

A medical power of attorney can also dictate when the grantor wants to be taken off life support or resuscitated, should they ever be in either of those situations. Some people also include instructions regarding what their wishes are for their remains following their death. Having medical power of attorney can grant you peace of mind in certain situations. For instance, if you have a terminal illness or a mental condition that affects decision-making.

Some people grow older and seek ways to make things easier for their survivors. A medical power of attorney often meets those needs. Some individuals prefer that certain family members not have a say over their medical decisions. Updating an Existing Medical Power of Attorney

In some situations, an existing medical power of attorney needs to be modified or updated. This is often because someone’s health status has changed, and their healthcare and treatment decisions will likely need more specific directives. In some cases, the religious beliefs of an individual change.

Some power of attorney documents must be modified when the designated person in the document and the grantor have a falling out or a change of relationship. For example, the grantor may have named someone in their power of attorney who was once a close friend, but they have since drifted apart.

When Change Is Warranted

A number of different scenarios could warrant a change in a medical power of attorney. There are certain steps in North Carolina, though, that must be carefully carried out to amend these documents. If these steps are not properly handled, it could cause problems down the road. To ensure you properly update your medical power of attorney, follow these steps:

• First, understand that you can only revoke or modify a medical power of attorney if you are the grantor and are of sound mind and body to do so.
• Speak with a Mooresville medical power of attorney. This is important because, as stated previously, failure to properly handle a modification can prevent your wishes from being carried out properly.
• Draft a formal revocation of your previous medical power of attorney. You must put in writing and clearly state that you revoke the authority granted in your previous medical power of attorney.
• Create a new medical power of attorney that includes the new authority you wish to give, with any additional directives you would like to include.
• Get the new medical power of attorney notarized. North Carolina requires all power of attorney documents to be notarized, or they will not be recognized or acknowledged as superseding any previous medical power of attorney.

The North Carolina Secretary of State, who can be reached at 919-814-5400, can assist in finding a notary if you don’t know one.

FAQs

Q: How Do You Get a Medical POA in North Carolina?

A: In North Carolina, to get a medical power of attorney, you must be 18 years old and of sound mind and body. You can fill out the NC State POA form or have a lawyer draft your document for you. You must also have two witnesses present to sign the document. All parties must sign the document in the presence of a notary, and the medical power of attorney document must be notarized.

Q: What Are the Disadvantages of a Healthcare Power of Attorney?

A: The disadvantages of a healthcare power of attorney are that sometimes situations or relationships can change over time. A grantor’s wishes may not be the same as they were when they signed their power of attorney. A grantor may also experience a change in health status that would require more power than the medical power of attorney provides. In either case, the medical power of attorney would have to be amended or revoked.

Q: How Much Does It Cost to Get a Power of Attorney in Mooresville, NC?

A: The cost of getting a power of attorney in Mooresville, NC, can vary depending on various factors. You can file your own for a minimal court fee plus the fee for a notary, but you cannot be sure it’s free of legal loopholes. If you hire an attorney, the cost can range anywhere from a flat fee to an hourly fee. Furthermore, the rate may go up or down depending on the complexity of the document.

Q: Do You Need a Lawyer for Power of Attorney in North Carolina?

A: You do not need a lawyer for a power of attorney in North Carolina. However, having a power of attorney without a lawyer is risky. Legal loopholes often provide misinterpretation or misapplication of a power of attorney at a time when the grantor can no longer expound on it. To ensure a power of attorney is legally ironclad, you should employ the assistance of a power of attorney lawyer.

Schedule a Consultation With a Trusted Mooresville Medical Power of Attorney Lawyer

If you need a medical power of attorney, don’t trust the authority to make important medical decisions for you or just anyone. Thomas & Webber is a reputable law firm that can help with all your estate planning needs. Call to schedule a consultation with a top Mooresville medical power of attorney lawyer.