You should be able to find the simple language online, then have it notarized.

They will ask you if you have a living will and/or durable power of attorney for your procedure. They have the forms, usually, and will be glad to assist you - for free!

Some state's Sec of State sites might actually have medical POAs and directive forms online that one can print out then take to sign before a notary. Some banks offer notary services free for account holders. I know my credit union will notarize free of charge.

Every bank I've ever banked at did.

The high school I work at does (and most every other school in the state). And my church did. Of course county clerks will have someone around that's a notary.

My husband and I have each other's power of attorney. Google "Wills and Estate Planning." Something simple and inexpensive might be just fine.

on the lawyer. I had one drawn up when he helped with my Will. I also named a “healthcare” proxy to make medical decisions if I’m not able to do so myself. All three docs and sending to family members for signatures was only $500.

1. Try Eforms.com. They have hundreds of generic documents available.

2. As mentioned above, what makes a POA legal is the notary.

Good luck!

...when my brother wanted me to have his power of attorney a few years ago.

https://www.legalzoom.com/personal/estate-planning/power-of-attorney-overview.html

Shows that it cost $39 now, don't remember what I paid.

My problem was that my brother became ill very, very suddenly, and it was going to be an hour or two before he went into surgery that could have left him incapacitated...I was in a different state (Ohio) and didn't have time to futz around...need it quick and correct.

But I tend to think that it's only "bank business" that they will notarize for free.
If it's a personal matter, they still might do it and charge a modest fee.

I'd almost trust a well-known online source over some of the legal advisors I've known.

Other than that, ask the hospital.

I don’t think there is any reason to spend money on an attorney.

I don't think this is a real problem.

For some things, yes. But there are also some decisions which the spouse cannot make unless granted express permission in advance.

The forms also typically raise questions which you might not think of (e.g. if you are unlikely to recover, do you want your spouse to terminate hydration? nutrition? pain relief, machines breathing for you?). It is good to go through the forms together so your spouse is clear what you want.

I agree that you don't generally need an attorney - the forms are pretty standard, and state-specific forms are almost certainly available from the hospital or state bar association.

But you are far better off with express authorization AND an advance discussion than hoping that the hospital follows your wishes, the law grants you all the permission you need, or that your spouse knows all of the details about where your line in the sand is.

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/health-issues/yourrightstomakehealthcaredecisions2011version-pdf.pdf

https://www.lawdistrict.com/articles/how-much-does-a-power-of-attorney-cost



How Much Does It Cost to Get a Power of Attorney?

When you consider legal procedures, fees and other expenses need to be part of the equation. The good news is that a POA can be affordable. Although state laws and requirements vary, a POA is legal in every state. Many states require the principal’s signature on the POA form to be notarized. Some states also require that signatures of one or more witnesses also be notarized.



Many lawyers charge a set fee to prepare a POA. Fees may vary according to the type of POA, its length, and complexity, but the average cost of a power of attorney is about $300. Some lawyers charge by the hour, with the average hourly rate for a family or probate lawyer typically in the $250 to $350 range. However, you also may be able to draft some POA forms online at low cost. In fact, your only fees may be for the cost to notarize the signatures, if your state requires notarization.

What Can Affect the Cost of a Power of Attorney?



snip

State, county, and also some elder care sites. Read through everything, filled out, printed, Took to my bank and they notarized. Think it was free, but it’s been a few years.

to a group of elder lawyers. Have you considered that? My husband and I also have a specific medical POA. Is that what you are talking about?

https://www.nolo.com/

Aside from that, the advice you are getting here is good. Should be easy and inexpensive.

Best of all luck with your scans and health.

or at least does not appear to be. The laws vary significantly from state to state on advance directives. Better to go to the state bar association or other state-specific source.

…our modest needs were pretty well served by NOLO Press, which iirc is out of Berkeley, CA or San Francisco, and as we live in California it makes sense we didn’t notice restrictions by state.

As for the living trust, as long as we had the lawyer there we updated everything that needed that needed looking at, including Powers of Attorney. It’s been only a couple of years and we need to make a few important changes, so we’ve got a call in to the lawyer, with fingers crossed that she has not 100% retired yet.

(Rueful laugh) Yet another instance where my prior experience has expired, leaving me feeling obsolete.

Depending on whether those in power in the state believe you should be able to make your own decisions.

The living will is one of those things, since it allows the person you are giving power to to make decisions about when to remove life support. Some states are pretty lenient, others have all sorts of hoops to jump through.

But the language in the documents usually come straight from the relevant statues - so it isn't one of those things anyone with a reasonable amount of intelligence needs to pay an attorney to review.

Every state has a statutory form free online. You’ll need to read info carefully, but it’s anything but rocket science.

what the notary will charge. There are types of poas (medical, financial, limited, etc.) the forms for your area are usually pretty standardized, and are already made up, provided by, the notary.

Bottom line, you'll need at least a notary, a witness probably two, signatures, and the notary's seal to make it legal.

And you might want to consider getting more than one sealed document because some places won't accept copies. They'll want to see the real deal.

At least in Ohio, it is a service they offer for free. (Living will, durable power of attorney).

Also check with your state bar association - in Ohio, the forms are available for anyone to download.

Do it all. May cost a bit more but not, “ARE YOU KIDDING ME…?” expensive. You and spouse.