POWER OF ATTORNEY – CONNECTICUT

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WHAT IS A POWER OF ATTORNEY?

A power of attorney is a legal document by which one person, called the principal, gives another person, called his attorney-in-fact or agent, the power to perform specified acts on the principal's behalf.

WHAT DOES "DURABLE" MEAN?

A durable power of attorney is intended to continue in force even if the individual later becomes legally "incapable". It remains effective until the individual dies or a court appoints a conservator.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE A POWER OF ATTORNEY?

If you were to become unable to handle your own affairs, a power of attorney gives your agent the power to manage your financial affairs for you as you would prefer. If you became disabled, you might not be able to execute a power of attorney at that time. Under those circumstances, your spouse or your family might have to go to the probate court and seek appointment as a conservator, with the power to manage your financial affairs.

WHY SHOULD I HAVE A DURABLE POWER OF ATTORNEY FOR HEALTH CARE DECISIONS?

A durable power of attorney for health care creates a "health care agent" (sometimes called an attorney-in-fact for health care, health care proxy, or surrogate) to make health care decisions for you. If you become ill or injured and unable to communicate your own wishes for care, either orally, in writing, or through gestures, your agent will make sure that doctors and other health care providers give you the type of care you wish to receive.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information on Connecticut Law About Power of Attorney's, see the Connecticut Judicial Law Library website, http://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/powersofattorney.htm

For more information on living wills and durable power of attorney for health care, see the eLibrary paper "Advance Directives," http://www.211ct.org/informationlibrary/Documents/Advance Directives fj.asp.

A more detailed outline covering power of attorney can be found at Powers of Attorney in Connecticut (http://www.ctelderlaw.org/power_attorn.asp) on the CTElderLaw website, http://www.ctelderlaw.org/.

TO FIND PROVIDERS IN CONNECTICUT'S COMMUNITY RESOURCES DATABASE:
Search by service name: Lawyer Referral Services

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SOURCES: Connecticut General Assembly Office of Legislative Research Report 2007-R-00372 http://www.cga.ct.gov/2002/olrdata/jud/rpt/2002-R-0758.htm; Connecticut Attorney General's Office: Your Rights to Make Health Care Decisions http://www.ct.gov/ag/lib/ag/health/advdirectivescombinedform2006alt.pdf
PREPARED BY: 211/rj
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: June2012