Foundations of Incapacity Planning

Incapacity planning ensures that someone can make decisions if you cannot speak for yourself. Sound practice rests on understanding the documents and the principles of choosing representatives. This foundational course provides that base. By the end of this course you will be able to describe powers of attorney and healthcare directives, recognize the differences across types, identify the principles of choosing representatives, and understand the role of revisiting documents. What you will learn: - The function of a financial power of attorney and its types - The function of a healthcare power of attorney and how it interacts with living wills - The function of a living will and what it specifies about treatments - The role of HIPAA authorizations and access to medical information - The principles of choosing representatives including primary and backup - The role of state-specific forms and notarization requirements - The signs that suggest consultation with an attorney The course uses readings, document anatomy walkthroughs, case examples, and reflection prompts. Each module ends with applied exercises. The course is informational and does not substitute for licensed legal advice. This course is written for adults at any stage. By the end you will have replaced vague worry about decision making with a structured understanding.