A Practice Note explaining Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) releases, which an individual can use to designate one or more people to have access to a client's protected health information, with a focus on the use of a HIPAA release as part of the individual's estate plan. This Note provides information on the purpose and use of a HIPAA release, drafting and execution requirements, and advantages and limitations as related to other advance health care directives, including health care powers of attorney and living wills.