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Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 155.65

  • Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • State: when applied to states of the United States, includes the District of Columbia, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the several territories organized by Congress. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
   (1)    A principal or a principal’s health care agent may, for a fee, file the principal’s power of attorney for health care instrument, for safekeeping, with the register in probate of the county in which the principal resides.
   (2)   If a principal or health care agent has filed the principal’s power of attorney for health care instrument as specified in sub. (1), the following persons may have access to the instrument without first obtaining consent from the principal:
      (a)    The health care agent for the principal.
      (b)    A health care provider who is providing care to the principal.
      (c)    The court and all parties involved in proceedings in this state for adjudication of incompetency and appointment of a guardian for the principal, for emergency detention under s. 51.15, for involuntary commitment under s. 51.20, or for protective placement or protective services under ch. 55.
      (d)    Any person under the order of a court for good cause shown.
   (3)   Failure to file a power of attorney for health care instrument under sub. (1) creates no presumption about the intent of an individual with regard to his or her health care decisions.