Senior Living and Notarization

Many of us have loved ones in Senior Living environments such as Assisted Living or Memory Care facilities, and sometimes it becomes difficult for our loved ones to leave these facilities. In many cases important tasks such as getting recently updated legal documents notarized can often be put off until a later date.

Ensuring your loved one's healthcare decisions are in the right hands and that their wishes are carried out are two important reasons to make sure their documents are properly notarized.

Some of the most common documents that may need to be notarized for someone in a Senior Living facility include:

• Healthcare Power of Attorney: This document is similar to a power of attorney, but it specifically grants someone the authority to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the individual. It is important to have a healthcare power of attorney notarized to ensure that their wishes are carried out regarding their healthcare.
  
• HIPAA Authorization: This document grants permission to healthcare providers to disclose the individual's medical information to designated individuals. It is important to have a HIPAA authorization notarized to ensure that their privacy is protected.
  
• Living Will or Advance Healthcare Directive: This document outlines an individual's medical treatment preferences, including decisions regarding life-sustaining measures. It is important to have a living will or advance healthcare directive notarized to ensure that their wishes are known and respected.
  
• Power of Attorney: This document grants someone the authority to make decisions on behalf of the individual if they become incapacitated. It is important to have a power of attorney notarized to ensure that their wishes are carried out if they are unable to make decisions for themselves.
  
• Trust Documents: If the individual has established a trust, certain trust documents, such as a Revocable Living Trust, may require notarization to validate their creation and provisions. It is important to have these documents notarized to ensure that they are valid and that they will be upheld in court.
  
• Beneficiary Designations: Some financial accounts, insurance policies, and retirement plans require beneficiary designations. It is important to have these designations notarized to ensure that they are valid and that they will be carried out according to the individual's wishes.
  
• Deeds and Property Transfers: If the individual wishes to transfer property or real estate, certain documents, such as deeds, may require notarization to validate the transfer. It is important to have these documents notarized to ensure that the transfer is valid and that the property is transferred to the intended recipient.
  
• Last Will and Testament: This document outlines how a person's assets and property should be distributed after their death. It is important to have a will notarized to ensure that it is valid and that it will be upheld in court.

If you have a loved one in a Senior Living facility, it is important to speak with your attorney about the documents that you may need to have notarized. Your attorney can help you to understand the different types of documents that are available and can help you to choose the documents that are right for you.