Complete Legal Alaska Life Documents New Parents Forms For Free

Though there is no strict age guideline under Alaska law, children are not generally mature enough to make reasoned decisions about which parent to live with until they are teenagers. Even then, a judge will look at the reason the teenager is expressing a preference for one parent over another.

The legal process known as a durable power of attorney allows the individual named in the document (the "health care agent") to make important health care and end-of-life decisions if the patient is unable to communicate or provide consent.

Almost all states permit advance directives for healthcare, which can be used to direct at least some forms of psychiatric treatment. In the past decade, twenty-five states have adopted specific psychiatric advance directives statutes.

Requests should be submitted to the clerk of court where the case was filed. You may submit your request in person or by mail to the court. A complete list of Alaska Court System contact information is available at: .

The advance health care directive provides a clear statement of your wishes about prolonging your life or withholding or withdrawing treatment. You can also choose to request relief from pain even if doing so hastens death.

While an Advance Directive is a comprehensive document that covers a wide range of healthcare decisions, a POLST form is focused on end-of-life decisions that require immediate medical attention. For instance, it may specify whether you want to receive CPR, antibiotics, or be put on a ventilator.