If you were in a car accident and in a coma, or developed dementia so you couldn't manage your affairs, who would pay your rent or your mortgage? Who would decide what medical treatment you get?You should consider granting an Enduring Power of Attorney to someone so that they can access your funds to manage your financial affairs. Without one, it might be necessary to go to court to get an order permitting someone to access your accounts; or the Public Guardian and Trustee might step in and take over.
The only time you don't need an Enduring Power of Attorney is if you and your partner have everything in joint names.
And who would decide what health care you should receive if you were so severely injured you couldn't decide for yourself? In BC, your spouse (married or common law) can make those decisions for you - but not all of them. Unless you have a Representation Agreement and have consulted a lawyer about it, your partner cannot automatically make the end-of-life decisions that are so important.
What is an Advance Directive? It is a new document that gives you the right to REQUIRE your health care providers to abide by your choices with respect to end of life care. This is different than having a representative who will make decisions for you - it is a direct "order" from you to doctors and hospitals.
If you want a power of attorney, or a representation agreement, or an advance directive, call our office. You can get more information about them from our legal guide "Who Will Care For Me?"
The only time you don't need an Enduring Power of Attorney is if you and your partner have everything in joint names.
And who would decide what health care you should receive if you were so severely injured you couldn't decide for yourself? In BC, your spouse (married or common law) can make those decisions for you - but not all of them. Unless you have a Representation Agreement and have consulted a lawyer about it, your partner cannot automatically make the end-of-life decisions that are so important.
What is an Advance Directive? It is a new document that gives you the right to REQUIRE your health care providers to abide by your choices with respect to end of life care. This is different than having a representative who will make decisions for you - it is a direct "order" from you to doctors and hospitals.
If you want a power of attorney, or a representation agreement, or an advance directive, call our office. You can get more information about them from our legal guide "Who Will Care For Me?"
RSS Feed
