Healthcare Power of Attorney In Michigan

Planning for Medical Decisions Before a Crisis Happens

A Health Care Power of Attorney is one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of a complete life plan. In Michigan, this document allows you to appoint a trusted person to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to speak or make decisions for yourself.

Accidents, illness, or sudden medical events can happen without warning. When they do, having a clear plan in place ensures your wishes are respected and your loved ones are not left guessing during an already emotional time.

What a Michigan Health Care Power of Attorney Does

A Michigan Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to name a patient advocate who can make health-related decisions if you become unable to communicate or understand medical information.

This authority may include:

• Consenting to or refusing medical treatment

• Communicating with doctors and healthcare providers

• Accessing medical records and information

• Making end-of-life care decisions based on your wishes

You remain fully in control while you have capacity. Your chosen advocate only steps in when needed.

Why This Document Matters

Without a Health Care Power of Attorney, medical providers may be forced to rely on default family hierarchies or seek court involvement to determine who can make decisions. This can cause confusion, delays, and emotional strain — especially during emergencies.

A properly prepared Health Care Power of Attorney ensures:

• Your medical wishes are clearly known

• Your voice is honored even when you cannot speak

• Your loved ones are protected from uncertainty and conflict

• Medical professionals have clear direction

This document brings clarity when clarity matters most.

Designed for Real Life, Not Just Legal Theory

Every person’s medical values and family dynamics are different. Some people want broad authority given to a spouse or partner. Others prefer limitations, multiple advocates, or specific instructions regarding treatment preferences.

A well-drafted Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to:

• Choose who speaks for you

• Define limits or conditions

• Align medical decisions with your personal values

• Coordinate with other planning tools, such as a Durable Power of Attorney or Living Will

This flexibility ensures your care reflects your wishes — not assumptions.

Michigan law sets specific rules for how a Health Care Power of Attorney must be created, witnessed, and used. Generic online forms may fail to meet these standards or be rejected by hospitals and providers.

In Michigan, a Healthcare Power of Attorney, legally known as a Patient Advocate Designation, allows an individual to appoint a trusted person to make medical and mental health care decisions if they become unable to do so themselves. This authority is governed by the Estates and Protected Individuals Code (EPIC), MCL 700.5506–700.5515, which outlines how a patient advocate is appointed, when their authority becomes effective, and what decisions they may legally make. Under Michigan law, the document must be signed by the principal in the presence of two witnesses (who are not the named patient advocate, healthcare providers, or facility employees). A properly executed healthcare power of attorney ensures that medical preferences, end-of-life wishes, and treatment decisions are honored, making it a foundational tool in Michigan estate planning, medical decision-making, and incapacity planning.

Why Michigan-Specific Planning Is Important

A Michigan-specific document helps ensure:

• Compliance with state requirements

• Recognition by hospitals and care facilities

• Confidence that your plan will work when it matters

Start With Clarity and Confidence

You don’t need to have everything figured out to begin.
Answer a few simple questions, and we’ll help you create a Health Care Power of Attorney that reflects your values, protects your wishes, and gives your loved ones peace of mind.

Make sure your medical wishes are honored when you can’t speak for yourself.

A Michigan Health Care Power of Attorney allows you to name a patient advocate who can make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to communicate. This ensures your treatment preferences, values, and personal beliefs are respected while reducing confusion and conflict during medical emergencies.