The Wall Street Journal recently ran an article on Four Estate Planning Documents Everyone Should Have.  What are they?  A will, a durable power of attorney, a medical power of attorney (called an "Appointment of Health Care Representative" in Indiana), and a living will.  Read the entire article here:  http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304572204579503983567868234?mg=reno64-wsj

A power of attorney is a document in which one person (the “principal”) appoints an agent to act on the principal’s behalf.  The agent appointed in the power of attorney is called the “attorney-in-fact”, although many persons refer to the person who is appointed as the “power of attorney”.   In the absence of a power of attorney executed while a person is competent, it may be necessary to petition the court to appoint a guardian ...