Advance directives are composed of 2 legal documents: the Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and a Living Will. A Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is a legal document appointing a person (or persons) of your choosing to make healthcare decisions for you if you become unable to do so because of injury, illness, or diminished capacity. This document is specific to healthcare decisions and is not the same as a general Durable Power of Attorney, which focuses on nonhealthcare decisions. The Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care is used to provide continued management of your affairs.

Without a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care and if no one steps forward to make decisions on your behalf, a court may appoint a conservator. Conservatorship is often referred to as a “Living Probate” because it is handled by the probate court and is subject to many...

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