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District of Columbia Healthcare Power of Attorney

A District of Columbia Power of Attorney (PoA) is a legal document that grants a trusted individual the authority to handle your legal and financial affairs, such as selling your property, accessing bank accounts, and signing contracts.

The person granting permission is known as the "principal," and the person or organization gaining authority is called the "agent." Suited for residents of Washington DC, our Power of Attorney for health care can be used throughout the district. All District of Columbia Healthcare PoA forms from Rocket Lawyer can be edited to address your specific scenario. As a result of having this essential document, your representative(s) will be able to offer confirmation to medical providers and other parties that they can act in your interest when you are not able.

It is quick and easy to grant or obtain the support you need with a free District of Columbia Healthcare Power of Attorney template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make your document - Answer a few general questions and we will do the rest
2. Send or share it - Review the document with your agent or ask a legal question
3. Sign it and make it legal - Required or not, witnesses and notarization are encouraged

This route is often notably more affordable and convenient than meeting and hiring a traditional attorney. If necessary, you may fill out this Medical PoA on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another family member, and then have them sign when ready. Please remember that for a Power of Attorney to be legally valid, the principal must be mentally competent when they sign. If the principal has already been declared incompetent, a court-appointed conservatorship may be necessary. In such a scenario, it's a good idea to work with a lawyer.

Every person over 18 ought to have a Healthcare Power of Attorney. Although it may be unpleasant to think about, a time may come when you can no longer make your own medical decisions. Common circumstances in which power of attorney can be helpful include:

• You will be undergoing a medical procedure requiring anesthesia
• You are aging or have declining health
• You've been given a terminal diagnosis
• You are preparing to move into an adult care facility

Whether this District of Columbia Healthcare Power of Attorney has been generated as part of a long-term plan or made as a result of an unexpected emergency, notarization and/or witnesses can help to protect your agent if their privileges are questioned.

At times, when discussing the subjects of estate planning and elder care with legal or medical professionals, you or a loved one may hear the terms "healthcare power of attorney" and "healthcare proxy" being used together or interchangeably. In short, they're one and the same. That being said, you should keep in mind that it's certainly possible to have power of attorney over affairs that are not related to health care. In that case, "proxy" is not commonly used.

District of Columbia Medical PoA forms are normally straightforward, but you or your agent might still have questions. Finding a legal professional to comment on your District of Columbia Healthcare Power of Attorney might be expensive. A more cost-effective way to double-check your document would be to go through attorney services at Rocket Lawyer. When you sign up for a Premium membership, you can get your documents reviewed or ask specific questions. As always, Rocket Lawyer is here for you.

The fees associated with finding and working with your average attorney to produce a medical Power of Attorney could add up to anywhere from $200 to $500, depending on your location. When using Rocket Lawyer, you are not just filling out a Power of Attorney template. In case you ever need support from a lawyer, your Premium membership offers up to a 40% discount when you hire an On Call attorney.

After making this document using Rocket Lawyer, you'll have the ability to get to it anytime, anywhere. With a Rocket Lawyer membership, you can make edits, print it out, and/or sign it. Alongside your Power of Attorney, you will discover a checklist of suggested actions to take after your document is finished. Your agent(s) and care providers should get a copy of the final document.

The guidelines will vary in each state; however, in the District of Columbia, your document will need the signatures of two witnesses. Your witnesses should not be anyone who is financially responsible for your health care, nor should they be anyone who is an employee of your attending physician or healthcare facility. Heirs, beneficiaries, and family members (including adopted children or your spouse) are also prohibited. Finally, as a general principle, witnesses will need to be over 18 years old, and no witness should also be acting as your Power of Attorney agent.

See District of Columbia Healthcare Power of Attorney law: § 21–2205