Advance Directives, Guardianships, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills
Legal Information
This section of PALawHelp.org has information and resources about Advance Directives, Guardianships, Powers of Attorney and Living Wills in Pennsylvania.
Click on a resource category listed below to see information related to that category.
Guardianship in Pennsylvania
Chapter 10 of CONSENT, CAPACITY, AND SUBSTITUTE DECISION-MAKING from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania. The purpose of this chapter of the booklet is to describe Pennsylvania's guardianship procedures to persons with disabilities, their parents, service providers, advocates, and friends. (July 2025)
Advance Health Care Declarations (Living Wills)
Information on advance health care directives and living wills from the Erie County Bar Association. (August 2018)
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
Guardianship
Information on legal guardianship from the Erie County Bar Association. A guardian is a person given the power and the duty to take care of and manage the property and rights of another person by the court. A ward is a person placed by authority of law under the care of a guardian. A guardian of the person is entrusted with the physical care of a person, while the guardian of the estate is entrusted with the care of the ward's property. (August 22, 2018)
Guardianship in Pennsylvania
Chapter 10 of CONSENT, CAPACITY, AND SUBSTITUTE DECISION-MAKING from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania. The purpose of this chapter of the booklet is to describe Pennsylvania's guardianship procedures to persons with disabilities, their parents, service providers, advocates, and friends. (July 2025)
Introduction to Guardian Tracking System (GTS) (Video)
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has released an educational video highlighting the Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), a web-based system for guardians, court staff, Orphans’ Court clerks and judges to file, manage, track and submit reports. The video highlights how the system will help protect adults of all ages who have been appointed a guardian by Pennsylvania courts. (2024)
Advance Health Care Declarations (Living Wills)
Information on advance health care directives and living wills from the Erie County Bar Association. (August 2018)
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will
The Allegheny County Medical Society and the Allegheny County Bar Association have made this document available, as a public service, to support you in making important decisions to record your wishes for end of life healthcare. By selecting a healthcare agent, and writing down your wishes, you are helping your family and physician honor your wishes, and empowering your loved ones to advocate on your behalf. The ACBA hopes that this document will serve to guide and help you to think about and record those important decisions, and provide you and your family with the gift of peace of mind. (March 2022)
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will
The Allegheny County Medical Society and the Allegheny County Bar Association have made this document available, as a public service, to support you in making important decisions to record your wishes for end of life healthcare. By selecting a healthcare agent, and writing down your wishes, you are helping your family and physician honor your wishes, and empowering your loved ones to advocate on your behalf. The ACBA hopes that this document will serve to guide and help you to think about and record those important decisions, and provide you and your family with the gift of peace of mind. (March 2022)
Power of Attorney
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network about what a power of attorney is and when you should use one. (2022)
Power of Attorney in Pennsylvania
Information from Northwestern Legal Services on what is a Power of Attorney (POA), guidelines when selecting an agent, what happens if I become mentally unable to make my own decisions, when does it go into effect, when does it end, and the process involved in setting up a POA. (10/2018)
Power of Attorney
Information from the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network about what a power of attorney is and when you should use one. (2022)
Power of Attorney in Pennsylvania
Information from Northwestern Legal Services on what is a Power of Attorney (POA), guidelines when selecting an agent, what happens if I become mentally unable to make my own decisions, when does it go into effect, when does it end, and the process involved in setting up a POA. (10/2018)
Advance Health Care Declarations (Living Wills)
Information on advance health care directives and living wills from the Erie County Bar Association. (August 2018)
A Guide to Legal Issues for Pennsylvania Older Adults
The guide is designed to provide information about legal issues faced by Pennsylvania’s older residents and their caregivers. The authors and publishers intend to assist older adults make appropriate choices so they can maximize their personal autonomy, minimize costs, navigate the maze of government benefits and protect themselves against predators seeking to deceive, exploit or defraud them. The materials in this guide were current as of the date of publication. May 2025.
Guardianship
Information on legal guardianship from the Erie County Bar Association. A guardian is a person given the power and the duty to take care of and manage the property and rights of another person by the court. A ward is a person placed by authority of law under the care of a guardian. A guardian of the person is entrusted with the physical care of a person, while the guardian of the estate is entrusted with the care of the ward's property. (August 22, 2018)
Healthcare Power of Attorney and Living Will
The Allegheny County Medical Society and the Allegheny County Bar Association have made this document available, as a public service, to support you in making important decisions to record your wishes for end of life healthcare. By selecting a healthcare agent, and writing down your wishes, you are helping your family and physician honor your wishes, and empowering your loved ones to advocate on your behalf. The ACBA hopes that this document will serve to guide and help you to think about and record those important decisions, and provide you and your family with the gift of peace of mind. (March 2022)
Power of Attorney
Information on Power of Attorney from the Erie County Bar Association. A power of attorney is a document by which a person appoints someone else to perform certain legal duties on his or her behalf. The appointed person is called the “agent.” The term "power of attorney" does not mean that the agent has to be a lawyer. Any adult can be the appointed agent, provided that both parties agree. (May 2023)
Area Agencies on Aging
Your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) is the front door for aging services in your community. Your AAA is staffed with skilled workers who can provide information about services and also help in getting access to those services. Pennsylvania has 52 Area Agencies on Aging that cover all 67 counties.
Introduction to Guardian Tracking System (GTS) (Video)
Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court has released an educational video highlighting the Guardianship Tracking System (GTS), a web-based system for guardians, court staff, Orphans’ Court clerks and judges to file, manage, track and submit reports. The video highlights how the system will help protect adults of all ages who have been appointed a guardian by Pennsylvania courts. (2024)
Mental Health Care Advance Directive
A Mental Health Advance Directive is a document that allows you to make your choices known regarding mental health treatment in the event that your mental illness makes you unable to make decisions. This packet provides information and forms to allow you to prepare documents to fit you needs regarding an advance directive. [PDF]
Guardianship in Pennsylvania
Chapter 10 of CONSENT, CAPACITY, AND SUBSTITUTE DECISION-MAKING from the Disability Rights Pennsylvania. The purpose of this chapter of the booklet is to describe Pennsylvania's guardianship procedures to persons with disabilities, their parents, service providers, advocates, and friends. (July 2025)
Adams County Self Help Center: Information for Representing Yourself in Court
Adams County Court of Common Pleas Self-Help Center. The Court, in conjunction with the Adams County Bar Association and its committees, has provided materials to help individuals represent themselves, pro se, in some legal proceedings. Included are materials on procedures in Family Law, Civil, Juvenile and Orphans Court.