Full question:
A person has completed a power of attorney for health care and a living will, but does not know if there are filing requirements or who should receive a copy of the documents. Are there filing requirements for advanced health care directive documents?
- Category: Power of Attorney
- Subcategory: Health Care Declaration
- Date:
- State: Alabama
Answer:
There are no formal filing requirements for advanced health care directive documents, but there are some important considerations to follow.
Give the original of the durable power of attorney for health care to the person you have named to be your patient advocate, or decision maker. Your doctor should have a copy of the document, and you should keep a copy for yourself.
For a living will, keep the original for yourself and give copies to your close family members. Your doctor should also have a copy of this.
Ask your doctor to make these documents a part of your medical record. If you should enter a hospital or nursing home, try to make sure that the facility also has a copy of the document or documents.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.
