There is a particular kind of panic that sets in when a family member is suddenly hospitalized and no one is certain who has the legal authority to make decisions on their behalf. Doctors are asking questions. Financial obligations are piling up. And somewhere in a filing cabinet, there may or may not be a power of attorney document that is current, properly executed, and broad enough to cover the situation actually unfolding. Increasingly, New Jersey families are recognizing this scenario for what it is — a preventable crisis — and taking action before the emergency rather than during it.
