Appoint a healthcare agent in Louisiana: Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney
What is a Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney?
The individual granting control is known as the "principal," while the individual or entity receiving authority is known as the "agent." Suited for Louisiana residents, our Power of Attorney for health care is made for use in East Baton Rouge Parish County, Jefferson Parish County, Orleans Parish County, and in every other county or municipality in the state. All Louisiana Healthcare PoA forms from Rocket Lawyer can be modified to address your particular circumstances. Making this essential legal document will provide proof to healthcare institutions and other parties that your representative(s) can act in your interest when you are not able.
When to use a Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney:
- You've identified the right person to make healthcare decisions for you if you can't, and want to get it in writing.
- You have health issues and want to cover your bases.
Sample Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney
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DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE
NOTICE: THE POWERS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT ARE BROAD AND SWEEPING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THESE POWERS, OBTAIN COMPETENT LEGAL ADVICE. YOU MAY REVOKE THIS POWER OF ATTORNEY IF YOU LATER WISH TO DO SO.
. DESIGNATION OF HEALTH CARE AGENT. I, , of , , appoint:
| Agent Name: |
| Address: |
| , |
| Phone: | Home: Work: |
| Relation, if any: |
as my Agent to make health care and personal decisions for me if I become unable to make such decisions for myself, except to the extent I state otherwise in this document.
NOTICE: Generally you should not appoint any of the following persons as your Agent:
(1) your treating physician or health care provider;
(2) an employee of your physician or health care provider unless the person is your relative;
(3) your residential care provider; or
(4) an employee of your residential care provider unless the person is your relative.
. CREATION OF DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE. By this document I intend to create a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care. This power of attorney shall take effect upon my disability, incapacity, or incompetency, and shall continue during such disability, incapacity, or incompetency.
. GENERAL STATEMENT OF AUTHORITY GRANTED. Subject to any limitations in this document, I grant to my Agent full power and authority to make health care decisions for me to the same extent that I could make such decisions for myself if I had the capacity to do so.
In exercising this authority, my Agent shall make health care decisions that are consistent with my desires as stated in this document or otherwise made known to my Agent. If my desires regarding a particular health care decision are not known to my Agent, then my Agent shall make the decision for me based upon what my Agent believes to be in my best interests.
SECOND ALTERNATE AGENT
| Agent Name: |
| Address: |
| , |
| Phone: | Home: Work: |
. NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN. If a Guardian of my person is to be appointed for me, I nominate my Agent (or Alternate Agent) to serve as my Guardian.
. NOMINATION OF GUARDIAN. If a Guardian of my person is to be appointed for me, I nominate
| Name: |
| Address: |
| , |
to serve as my Guardian.
. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
1. HOLD HARMLESS. I agree that any third party who receives a copy of this document may act under it. Revocation of the Power of Attorney is not effective as to a third party until the third party has actual knowledge of the revocation. I agree to indemnify the third party for any claims that arise against the third party because of reliance on this Power of Attorney.
2. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this document is held to be invalid, such invalidity shall not affect the other provisions which can be given effect without the invalid provision, and to this end the directions in this document are severable.
3. STATEMENT OF INTENTIONS. It is my intent that this document be legally binding and effective. If the law does not recognize this document as legally binding and effective, it is my intent that this document be taken as a formal statement of my desire concerning the method by which any health care decisions should be made on my behalf during any period in which I am unable to make such decisions.
(YOU MUST DATE AND SIGN THIS DOCUMENT)
I have read and understand the contents of this document and the effect of this grant of powers to my Agent. I am emotionally and mentally competent to make this declaration.
Signed on _____ day of ____________________, _____.
| Signature: | ________________________________________ |
| Name: |
| Address: |
| Parish |
has been personally known to me and I believe him or her to be of sound mind. I am not related to by blood or marriage and would not be entitled to any portion of 's estate.
| Witness Signature: | ________________________________________ |
| Witness Signature: | ________________________________________ |
State of Louisiana
Parish of _________________________
Be it known on this _____ day of the month of ____________________, _____, before me, the undersigned authority, personally came and appeared , to me personally known and known by me to be the person whose genuine signature is affixed to the foregoing document, who signed said document before me and who acknowledged, in my presence, that he/she signed the above and foregoing document as his/her own free act and deed and for the uses and purposes therein set forth and apparent.
In witness whereof, the said appearer has signed these presents and I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal on the day and date first above written.
________________________________________
(Signature of Officer)
(Seal)
Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney FAQs
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How do I get Medical Power of Attorney in Louisiana?
It's very easy to grant or receive the support you need with a free Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney template from Rocket Lawyer:
- Make the PoA - Provide a few details and we will do the rest
- Send or share it - Review the document with your agent or get legal advice
- Sign and make it legal - Optional or not, notarization and witnesses are recommended
This solution is, in most cases, much less expensive than meeting and hiring your average provider. If necessary, you may fill out this Medical PoA on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then help them sign when ready. Please remember that for a PoA form to be considered valid, the principal must be mentally competent at the time of signing. In the event that the principal is already unable to make their own decisions, a court-appointed conservatorship may be required. When managing such a situation, it's a good idea to connect with an Legal Pro.
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Why should I have a Power of Attorney for healthcare in Louisiana?
Anyone who is over 18 years old should have a Medical Power of Attorney. While it is tough to acknowledge, there could come a time when you aren't able to make important decisions on your own. Common circumstances where power of attorney might be helpful include:
- You are aging or have declining health
- You are planning to live in a community care facility
- You will be hospitalized for surgery
- You have been given a terminal diagnosis
Regardless of whether this Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney is being produced in response to an urgent issue or as part of a forward-looking plan, witnesses and notarization are highly encouraged as a best practice for protecting your agent if their power and authority are disputed by a third party.
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How are a Louisiana Healthcare Proxy and a Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney different?
At times, in researching the subjects of elder care and estate planning, you or a loved one may see the terms "healthcare power of attorney", "medical power of attorney" and "healthcare proxy" used together or interchangeably. In reality, they are the same. That being said, you should keep in mind that it's entirely possible to give agency over affairs that aren't health-related. In that case, "proxy" is not usually used.
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Should I hire a lawyer for my Louisiana Medical PoA?
It’s a good idea to have important documents like your Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney reviewed before signing, so you fully understand your choices and help avoid unintended outcomes. The problem is that some attorneys may not review documents they didn’t prepare, while others may require a retainer or high hourly fees. This can make getting a legal review of your Louisiana Medical Power of Attorneydifficult and time-consuming.
Rocket Lawyer makes the process easier. With Rocket Lawyer, you can request a review from a Legal Pro or ask questions about your document. You can also use Rocket Copilot to review your document, identify potential issues, and check that everything is complete before signing.
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On average, how much would it traditionally cost for me to get a Power of Attorney form for health care in Louisiana?
Attorney fees for drafting or reviewing a Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney can vary widely. Many lawyers charge hourly rates that may range from around $100 for less experienced attorneys to $350 or more per hour for highly experienced attorneys in major metropolitan areas. For more routine documents, some attorneys may offer flat-fee pricing.
The total cost will depend on several factors, including your location, the attorney’s experience, and the complexity of your agreement. More documents or situations involving negotiation will typically require more time and increase the overall cost.
With Rocket Lawyer, you can create a personalized Louisiana Medical Power of Attorney tailored to your specific needs—without the high cost typically associated with hiring a lawyer. If you have questions or want additional peace of mind, you can also get your document reviewed or ask a Legal Pro for guidance.
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Does a Medical Power of Attorney need to be notarized, witnessed, or recorded in Louisiana?
The rules and restrictions will be different by state; however, in Louisiana, your document must be signed by two witnesses. Finally, as a basic rule, your witness(es) will need to be 18 years old or older, and none of them should simultaneously be designated as your Power of Attorney agent.
See Louisiana Medical/Healthcare Power of Attorney law: CC 2997
