Legal preparedness helps deployment readiness Published Jan. 6, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Alexandra Hastey 92nd Air Refueling Wing civil law paralegal FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE Wash. -- Airmen preparing to deploy typically have personal property, money or a family that will be left behind. Bills, car, a household and all sorts of other things need to be managed while deployed. These are a few things to start thinking about early to ease the stress of departure and leaving family behind. The legal office can assist Airmen with a power of attorney before deployment. A POA gives someone else the ability, or power, to make decisions on your behalf while you're away. There are two types to be familiar with, a general POA and a special POA. A general POA gives the appointed person a broad range of power. A special POA gives very specific instructions as to what the grantee is able to do. There are special POAs for banking, buying and selling a home, child care, ID cards, etc. Determining the person to appoint with a POA is an important decision. Choosing a trustworthy person with personal assets is critical. Some businesses may not accept a general POA and requires a special POA. In addition to POAs, our office can assist with preparing a Will, Living Will or a healthcare POA; while it is sometimes difficult for people to think or talk about their death, the legal office can prepare documents in advance. A will assists the executor with distributing property in the event of death. A healthcare POA allows a selected individual to make medical decisions if the Airman becomes incapacitated and cannot make them for themself. The Air Force developed the Air Force Legal Assistance Website, https://aflegalassistance.law.af.mil to assist users with their needs. This site can be accessed at home or at work. This website is not a substitute for legal advice, but it is useful to find information based on personal need. This is also the place to get started on drafting POA's and worksheets for wills. Once information is inputted, the system generates a ticket number that will allow the attorney to retrieve documents drafted quicker. The best way to be prepared is to be legally ready. Think about the potential curveballs in life and prepare early. The process is simple and saves time. Appointments must be made to prepare a Will, Living Will or a healthcare POA. The Fairchild Legal Office's walk-in hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, contact the legal off ice at 509-247-2838.