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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Paul,<o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>I am not aware of any requirement that powers of attorney be witnessed or acknowledged to be effective (just to be recorded). I am generally aware that hospitals are somewhat nervous to very nervous about being sued, as well as about the whole privacy issue. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>What I would do were I in your situation is put that extra language above the signature line for unsworn affidavits, even though it would be legally superfluous, with “City/County Where Signed” printed under the line instead of “Place Where Signed,” then attach the statute which says “RCW Sec. blah, blah” about unsworn statements to the form. If you want to go to the extra 10 yards, include the form for certifying the authority of the AIF, with that applicable statute. Modify the form to be specific to the situation. Or don’t do any of the foregoing if you think it will be off-putting to the supervisory adult. As you say, something is probably better than nothing. There’s always the risk that the poor fellow who takes the kid to the hospital will be faced with a decision which will go against the parents’ wishes – tetanus booster, some sort of surgery decision, whether to transport or call 911, etc. At least no one extra will be required for signature. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b> wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com [mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Paul Neumiller<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Monday, July 06, 2015 10:49 AM<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [WSBAPT] HCDPAs for Minors Signing Requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Ok, so I guess you are saying that no, it is not necessary to have the HCDPA notarized or witnessed? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'>Under my situation, I am helping a loosely organized mountain bike group. Sometimes minors show up (or dropped off by the parent) and the group is concerned if and when a kid breaks an arm and a non-parent adult has to take the kid to the emergency room. Some adults who either know the kid or know the family of kid have come forward and said that they volunteer to be the responsible adult to take the kid to the emergency room, if needed. Hence, the use of the HCDPA. (Visualize a kid running home, slamming the door and yelling “Mooooom, they say that I can’t ride with the group anymore until you sign this.”) In other words, I am NOT going to be there to gather witnesses, notarize, or impress the sealing wax with the royal ring. If I require that the HCDPA be notarized or witnessed, or both, I imagine that it will not get done because it is too burdensome of a procedure. So, I asked the listserv if was legally necessary to have the HCDPA for Minors be notarized or witnessed. While it would be best to use as many formalities as possible, just getting the parent’s signature would be better than nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=white face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:white'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color="#1f497d" face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Sam Furgason<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, July 2, 2015 8:30 PM<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> 'WSBA Probate & Trust Listserv'<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [WSBAPT] HCDPAs for Minors Signing Requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The purpose of the power of attorney is to convince non-lawyers to recognize the requests of a person’s authority to act on behalf of the principal. In that respect, I believe that “</span></font>adding weightiness and looking important” can come in quite handy. That’s why I always added that notary stamp to a lot of documents which did not legally require one, such as Health Care Directives and Health Care Powers of Attorney. It’s there to give doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and administrators a level of comfort in dealing with legal matters they are not trained to interpret. If every other similar legal document comes with witnesses and acknowledgments, those without such raise a warning flag. If, on the other hand, your document has even more authentication than others, such as an acknowledgment in addition to witness signatures, such serves, in my opinion, to add validity. Of course, if you use the form standardized and in common use by the institution where you know your client will be going, that also should be easily accepted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>S </span></font><font size=3><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a> [<a href="mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com">mailto:wsbapt-bounces@lists.wsbarppt.com</a>] <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Paul Neumiller<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, July 02, 2015 3:34 PM<br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> <a href="mailto:wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com">wsbapt@lists.wsbarppt.com</a><br><b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [WSBAPT] HCDPAs for Minors Signing Requirements<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p><p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>After reviewing 11.94 and the estate planning deskbook, I can’t find the signature requirements for an effective HCDPA for minors. They will not be recorded so I have no independent need to have the DPA notarized. I don’t find any requirement for witnesses. Other than adding weightiness and looking important, any other reasons for doing more than the signature and date of the signing parent? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p></div></body></html>