Legal Steps to Take if You Have HIV

HIV is a serious condition. There may come a time when you aren’t able to make decisions for yourself or you need to have others manage your financial affairs.

Planning to address these issues will help relieve stress and worry on your part and give others in your life the security of knowing what you want.

Every one who tests positive for HIV should have:

	An advance healthcare directive. This written guideline tells doctors what your wishes are for different kinds of treatment if a time comes when you can’t make those decisions your self. Many organizations such as hospitals and doctors offices have forms for making an advance health care directive, no special form is needed. The advance healthcare directive kit from the California Medical Association is a sample of what a healthcare directive should cover.
	A medical power-of-attorney. This legal document names someone you select (a life partner, family member or friend) to make decisions for you if you are seriously ill. A lawyer can draw this up.
	Arrangements for paying bills and taking care of other financial matters if you become physically unable to do so yourself. This can be handled in various ways. Your bank or an attorney or accountant can help with this.