If someone becomes incapacitated and does not have an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPOA) or Advanced Health Directive, there are serious implications that must be considered. Without these documents in place, decisions regarding finances and medical care will fall to a court-appointed administrator or guardian. This person may not know the wishes of the individual who is now unable to make decisions for themselves.
It should also be noted that having a will alone is not enough if you become incapacitated since it cannot help with decision making during your lifetime. An EPOA assigns authority to another person to act on your behalf when it comes to financial matters such as access to bank accounts and managing investments. Meanwhile, an Advanced Health Directive outlines any specific healthcare instructions you wish carried out. Both documents ensure that your wishes can still be followed even if you are no longer able to communicate them yourself.
Having an EPOA and an Advanced Health Directive ensures that those closest to you understand how best they can look after your interests, both financially and medically, should you ever become incapacitated due to illness or injury. It is essential for anyone wanting peace of mind that their affairs are taken care of according to their own preferences so as to avoid potential conflict between family members later down the track.
