Legal information
Power of attorney, in plain language.
Definitions households ask about when CareOS says a medical power of attorney is required. This page is general information — not a substitute for counsel in your state.
General information, not legal advice. Meridian's contracted attorneys can draft and notarize one for you.
General power of attorney
- Gives an agent broad authority to act on your behalf in financial and business matters while you can still make your own decisions (unless the document says otherwise).
Limited / special power of attorney
- Limits the agent to specific acts, accounts, property, or a time window — for example selling one house or handling one transaction.
Durable power of attorney
- Stays in effect if you later become incapacitated. Most care and estate planning POAs are drafted as durable unless a short, temporary grant is intended.
Non-durable power of attorney
- Ends if you become incapacitated. Useful for a short, defined task when ongoing authority during incapacity is not wanted.
Springing power of attorney
- Takes effect only when a stated condition happens (often a physician finding of incapacity). Until then the agent usually cannot act.
Medical / healthcare power of attorney
- Names someone to make health-care decisions if you cannot. CareOS households are expected to have a medical power of attorney on file after accept.
Financial power of attorney
- Covers money, property, banking, and related business matters — separate from medical decision authority unless one document carefully combines both under local law.
HIPAA authorization vs power of attorney
- A HIPAA authorization lets named people receive your protected health information. It is not the same as a medical POA. A POA can include decision authority; a HIPAA form alone usually does not.
Guardianship vs power of attorney
- A POA is something you sign while you have capacity. Guardianship / conservatorship is a court process that can appoint a decision-maker when capacity is already lost and no workable POA is in place. Court costs and timelines differ.
How a POA is revoked or amended
- While you have capacity, you can usually revoke or amend a POA in writing, notify the agent and key institutions, and follow state formalities (often notarization). Destroying old originals and circulating the new instrument reduces confusion.