Ohio estate plans often require choosing someone to have power of attorney to handle your financial and medical affairs. A power of attorney is a legal document which essentially requires you to choose someone to make important decisions for you, if you were to become incapacitated.
Many people choose one person as a medical POA and another person as a financial POA, though they can be the same person.
The person or people you choose should be trustworthy, organized, and willing to adhere to your wishes. Before you decide who to choose as your power of attorney, you should consider which responsibilities they will be required to take on.
Responsibilities of a medical POA
The person you choose for your medical POA should be someone you trust to make medical decisions on your behalf. The person who acts as a medical POA may be expected to think about what you would want if you were not incapacitated and act accordingly. Some of their responsibilities may include acting on your behalf by:
- Making sure you receive adequate care from doctors, nursing home workers, and other health care professionals
- Make decisions on medically necessary procedures and treatments
- Making end-of-life care decisions, if necessary
Responsibilities of a financial POA
A financial POA will be asked to manage your financial affairs. Some responsibilities may involve doing the following on your behalf:
- Paying taxes and bills
- Making bank deposits
- Collecting insurance benefits
- Entering into financial transactions
Choosing someone to handle your financial and medical affairs in Ohio if you are unable to handle your own affairs is a big decision and should not be taken lightly. If you need help choosing the right people for these roles, consult with an estate planning attorney to provide guidance.