Most Health Care Powers of Attorney (also know as Health Care Proxies in some states) are designed to work within the state in which the lawyer drafted them. Many times they contain written references to state specific statutes, such as here in North Carolina. Unfortunately, they may not work in another state when you cross state lines. Healthcare providers often do not recognize out of state Health Care Powers of Attorney.
Here in Western North Carolina, we are closer to three other state capitals than our own. We are also within an hour and a half drive to four other states from Asheville. We design our Health Care Powers of Attorney to work across state lines and be enforceable in other states. If they are not, they defeat the purpose for which they are created.
We all travel. We don’t know if we’re going to get sick or involved in an accident out of state.
At the Law Firm of Steven Andrew Jackson, Attorney and Counsellor at Law, we have helped hundreds of families protect themselves and their loved ones, avoid Estate Taxes and Probate Costs, and keep their Estate Plans current with the law through The Customized Protective Estate Planning Solution™.