Revocable living trust
Summary A revocable living trust is a type of living trust that allows the trustor to change or revoke (take back) the trust at any time, as long as they are mentally competent. This article explains what a living trust is and the difference between revocable and irrevocable living trusts. It then explains how to […]
Advance directives
Summary Advance directives are legal documents that say what kind of medical treatment a person wishes to receive in an emergency or at end-of-life, and gives their health-care providers the right to act on those wishes. This article briefly describes the most common kinds of advance directives. It then explains why advance directives are important […]
Portable medical orders (POLST)
Summary A portable medical document, or POLST, is a one-page medical form, filled out by a health-care professional, that says what a frail or seriously ill person’s care and treatment wishes are in a medical emergency. This article discusses who should fill out a POLST form, what the form does, and the difference between POLST […]
Living wills
Summary A living will is a legal document that says which kinds of life-support and pain-management care a person does or does not want. Doctors use it as a guide when their patient has lost the ability to say for themselves what kind of treatment they want. This article explains when the living will takes […]
HIPAA authorization for medical records
Summary HIPPA authorization for medical records is a form that an individual fills out and signs in order to allow their doctor, health insurer, or other health care-related person or group to share their personal health care information with their caregivers and family members. This article describes what HIPPA is and what a HIPAA authorization […]
Health care documents
Summary Health care documents are a set of legal forms and papers that state a person’s wishes for medical care and treatment when they are seriously ill, in a medical emergency, or nearing the end-of-life. The documents give health providers and caregivers guidance, and also make it legal for doctors to withhold certain kinds of […]
Guardianship
Summary A guardian is someone who has the legal right to make decisions and take action for another person. Guardianship occurs if a person is incapable of deciding or acting for themselves and has not made arrangements for someone of their own choice to act for them. This article explains how someone becomes a guardian, […]
Estate Plan
Summary An estate plan is a set of legal documents that say what happens to an individual’s estate after they die. This article provides information on the documents generally included in an estate plan and explains the differences between an estate plan and a will. It also covers who should get an estate plan done […]
Durable power of attorney
Summary Durable power of attorney is the legal right to handle financial, legal, or medical matters for another person even after that person can no longer make or communicate decisions for themselves. This article explains the difference between durable and non-durable power of attorney. It then describes the main kinds of durable power of attorney […]
Do Not Resuscitate and Do Not Intubate orders
Summary Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) and Do Not Intubate (DNI) orders are medical documents that tell doctors and emergency medics not to try to bring a person back to life if their heart has stopped beating or they have stopped breathing. This article defines both orders, explains why there is some confusion about the two […]
