Section 2: Plan for Possible Incapacity
If something happens and you can’t make decisions for yourself, having the right documents in place is critical.
If you're ever in a situation where you can't speak or choose for yourself, someone will be able to perform critical financial tasks for you such as paying bills, managing your assets and filing your tax return. Regarding health care wishes, you can specify your important wishes in advance to avoid ambiguity or conflict among family members. Your loved ones will be left guessing what you would have wanted unless you've laid things out ahead of time.
Having the correct incapacity documents in place brings peace of mind to everyone involved and ensures your financial and personal affairs are handled in the way you would’ve chosen.
You’ll want:
Power of Attorney for Property (Protection Mandate in Quebec): Enables someone to handle your finances and legal matters.
Power of Attorney for Personal Care (also known as a living will, health care directive, or representation agreement): Documents your medical wishes and empowers someone to instruct medical professionals on your behalf.
