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New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney

A New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives a person or organization the authority to make health-related decisions on your behalf, such as accepting or refusing a certain medical treatment, if you cannot do so.

The person granting permission is known as the "principal," while the individuals or organizations gaining authority are called the "agents." Suitable for residents of New Hampshire, this Power of Attorney for health care can be used in Hillsborough County, Rockingham County, Merrimack County, and in all other counties and municipalities across the state. All New Hampshire Healthcare PoA forms from Rocket Lawyer can be personalized for your specific situation. Creating this legal document provides verification to medical facilities and other parties that your chosen representative is legally allowed to make choices for you when you are not able.

It's quick and easy to give or get the authority you might need with a free New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney template from Rocket Lawyer:

1. Make the document - Provide a few details and we will do the rest
2. Send and share it - Review it with your agent(s) or seek legal advice
3. Sign it and make it legal - Optional or not, witnesses/notarization are recommended

This method is, in most cases, much less expensive than working with a conventional attorney. If necessary, you can start a Medical PoA on behalf of an elderly parent, a spouse, or another relative, and then help that person sign it when ready. Please keep in mind that for this document 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 conservatorship might be required. When facing this scenario, it would be a good idea to work with a lawyer.

If you are over 18 years old, you should have a Healthcare Power of Attorney. While it's painful to acknowledge, a day may come when you cannot make your own medical decisions. Here are a few typical circumstances in which you might consider PoA forms to be useful:

• You are currently managing a terminal condition
• You expect to be in the hospital for surgery
• You live in or are preparing to move into a community care facility
• You are getting older or have declining health

Regardless of whether your New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney has been made as a result of an emergency or as part of a forward-looking plan, witnesses and/or notarization will often help to protect your agent if their authority is challenged by a third party.

In discussing the subjects of elder care or estate planning with medical professionals, you might find that "healthcare power of attorney" and "healthcare proxy" are used together or interchangeably. In reality, they're the same. That said, you should keep in mind that it's possible to get agency over matters that are not related to medical care. In that case, "proxy" typically is not the preferred term.

New Hampshire Medical PoA forms are normally simple to make; however, you or your agent may need legal advice. Finding a legal professional to check your New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney can be fairly time-intensive. An easier and more cost-effective way to double-check your document is through Rocket Lawyer attorney services. With a Premium membership, you can get your document reviewed or send specific questions. As always, you can rest assured that Rocket Lawyer is here for you.

The fees associated with hiring the average legal provider to generate a Medical Power of Attorney could be between two hundred and five hundred dollars, depending on your location. Unlike many other websites you might come across, Rocket Lawyer offers much more than a Power of Attorney template. If you ever require support from a lawyer, your Premium membership provides up to a 40% discount when you hire an attorney.

Alongside each Power of Attorney form, there is a checklist of next steps you should take once the document is completed. With a membership, you can make edits, save it as a Word document or PDF file, print it out, and sign it. Finally, your agent(s) and care providers should receive copies of the fully executed document.

The requirements governing PoA forms vary by state; however, in New Hampshire, your Power of Attorney must be signed by a notary public or two witnesses. Witnesses to a Healthcare PoA shouldn't be your attending physician or anyone who is acting under your physician's direction. At least one witness must not be your health or residential care provider or such provider's employee. Your spouse and other heirs/beneficiaries should also be excluded. As a general principle, witnesses will need to not be under the age of 18, and none of them should also be your agent.

See New Hampshire Healthcare Power of Attorney law: Title X, Chapter 137-J