| | Living Will | Power of Attorney | Power of Attorney for Health Care |
|---|
| What does it do? | Provides specific instructions about medical care and artificial life support | Authorizes someone to handle legal and financial decisions on your behalf | Authorizes someone to make health care decisions on your behalf |
| Can it outline your medical wishes if you are unable to communicate? |  | Generally, no | Generally, no, but it does authorize someone to make medical decisions on your behalf |
| Can it authorize someone to handle your financial affairs if you are unable to communicate? | Generally, no | | Generally, no |
| Duration | No expiration; can be revised or revoked at any time | Depends on specifics in the document; can be revised or revoked at any time | Depends on specifics in the document; can be revoked or revised at any time |
| Is it private? | | | |
| When does it go into effect? | Upon your incapacity | Either immediately or upon a specific trigger event (such as your incapacity) | Either immediately or upon a specific trigger event (such as your incapacity) |
