The Durable Power of Attorney is a legal document that authorizes one person to act for another. What authority is granted depends on the specific language of the Power of Attorney. Durable Powers of Attorney allow your spokesperson to act for you even if you are incapacitated.

In this document, you appoint a person to make health care decisions for you during any period of incapacity.

A Living Will is a written or oral statement which indicates the kind of medical care you want or do not want if you are unable to make your own decisions and have a terminal condition, end stage condition or are in a persistent vegetative state. It is called a Living Will because it takes effect while you are still living.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is a federal law limiting who can have access to your medical information. This document gives your health care providers the authority to release your medical information to your health care surrogate and any other persons, whether family or friends you designate in the HIPAA Release Form.

This advance directive is a written statement you prepare while you are healthy stating whom you would like the court to appoint as your guardian should you need one in the future. If you do not plan for who you want as your guardian, the court will make the decision for you.