Consequences of not Having Good Power of Attorney Documents

So, you have a Power of Attorney. First of all - what kind of POA is it - financial, healthcare, living will, mental health, or all of the above? What is in it? How long ago was it drafted? Have any of your personal circumstances changed since it was originally done? It is critically important to review your POAs periodically, because if there are critical components missing, it can greatly affect someone's ability to carry out the wishes of an incapacitated loved one. It can also affect a elder law attorney's ability to help both parties, which could potentially lead to long and expensive legal proceedings involving the courts. In this brief episode, long-term care planner Tammy Zilske explains more about the importance of having good quality POAs, and the possible consequences of having out-of-date or incomplete POAs, or none at all.