# Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney: The Documents Everyone Needs | Dunn & Phillips, P.C. > These two documents protect you while you are alive, not just your estate after. Here is what each one does in Massachusetts, and why every adult should have them. [Canonical page](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/blog/health-care-proxy-and-poa/) --- [Insights](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/blog) / Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney: The Documents Everyone Needs Insights # Health Care Proxy and Power of Attorney: The Documents Everyone Needs March 28, 2026 Dunn & Phillips, P.C. [Probate & Estate Planning](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/practice/wills-estates) When people think about estate planning, they think about a will, which is about what happens after death. But two of the most important documents in any plan are about what happens while you are still alive and unable to speak for yourself. They are the health care proxy and the durable power of attorney. Every adult should have both. ## The health care proxy A health care proxy is a short document that names someone you trust, your “agent,” to make medical decisions for you if a doctor determines you cannot make them yourself. Without one, if you are incapacitated by an accident or illness, your family may have no clear authority to direct your care, and may have to ask a court to appoint a guardian. That is slow, public, and expensive at exactly the moment your family is least able to manage it. A proxy avoids that. You can also talk with your agent in advance about your wishes, so they are not guessing under pressure. ## The durable power of attorney A durable power of attorney names someone to handle your financial and legal affairs, paying bills, managing accounts, dealing with insurance, if you become unable to do so. “Durable” means it stays in effect even after you lose capacity, which is the whole point. Without one, the same problem arises: your family may have to petition a court to be appointed conservator before they can pay your mortgage or manage your accounts. A durable power of attorney lets someone you chose, on terms you set, step in without that delay. ## Why these matter for everyone These documents are not about wealth or age. A young, healthy adult is exactly the person an accident can sideline without warning. The cost of preparing a proxy and a power of attorney is small, and they are simple to put in place. The cost of not having them falls on your family, in court, at the worst possible time. ## Keep them current and accessible Name your agents thoughtfully, and name an alternate in case your first choice is unavailable. Tell the people you have named, and make sure the documents can be found when needed. Review them after major life changes. As with a will, a document no one can locate, or that no longer reflects your wishes, does not do its job. Free worksheet · PDF ## Get the Massachusetts Estate Planning Worksheet What to gather and decide before you meet with us: your documents, people, and wishes, in one PDF worksheet. From a firm that has planned estates since 1988. [Download the worksheet (PDF)](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/downloads/dunn-phillips-estate-planning-worksheet.pdf) Saves to your device as a fillable PDF you can complete or print. It is free, with nothing to fill out first. Using this does not make us your attorneys. It is general information, not legal advice. Discuss your matter Questions about a deadline or a potential claim are best answered early. An initial conversation with the firm is confidential and without obligation. [Request a Consultation](https://www.dunnandphillips.com/contact) Related reading ## More on Probate & Estate Planning - [Do You Even Need Probate in Massachusetts If There's a Will? A will does not skip probate; it directs it. Whether your family needs a full probate in Massachusetts depends less on the will and more on how the property was titled. Here are the lighter paths and what passes outside court.](/blog/do-i-need-probate) - [What Does an Executor Actually Do in Massachusetts? Being named to settle a loved one's estate is an honor and a real responsibility. Here is what the role, called a personal representative in Massachusetts, involves.](/blog/what-an-executor-does) - [Do I Need a Will If I Don't Own Much? A common question with a clear answer. Even modest estates benefit from a will and a few basic documents in Massachusetts.](/blog/do-i-need-a-will) This page is general information only, not legal advice for any specific situation, and reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Every matter depends on its own facts; for advice on your particular circumstances, talk to a licensed attorney. Published by Dunn & Phillips, P.C., 185 Belmont Avenue, Springfield, MA 01108. Responsible attorney: Cornelius W. Phillips, III.