Rarely is an estate plan complete without the increasingly important healthcare and financial powers of attorney in place. These documents, while easily incorporated into an estate plan, often are some of the most important and effective documents in planning for the future and the unexpected.

A durable power of attorney for healthcare typically allows an individual you name as your agent to have access to and manage all things financial on your behalf. This document, while powerful, is important in the event of incapacity or travel.

A healthcare power of attorney is somewhat similar to but more comprehensive than a living will many are familiar with. A healthcare power of attorney allows you to name an agent to stand in your place and make medical decisions on your behalf in the event of incapacity. Having this document in place prior to such a situation commonly alleviates the need for formal guardianship proceedings or lengthy court disputes.