You might not think you’ll ever need to understand the basics of power of attorney, which is the act of granting someone else the power to sign legal documents on your behalf. But don’t be so sure; life can take some unexpected turns.
There might be a time when you need to grant power of attorney – also known as POA – to someone else. There might also be a time when you’re on the other end of this arrangement, taking on power of attorney duties for someone else.
Here’s an example: What if your mom has to have minor surgery? Your father might be unable to take off work to take her to the surgery. Your mom could have you sign a form making you a temporary healthcare power of attorney. You would then have the right to sign any forms ensuring your mother has the medical care she needs during her surgery.
What Is Power Of Attorney?
A power of attorney is a form required to grant someone else the power to sign legal documents on your behalf.
Of course, it’s not quite as simple as that. A power of attorney can grant complete authority or can be limited to certain acts or periods of time. Full POA only occurs when someone is granted the right to make all decisions on your behalf and in your best interest.
Limited POA, as its name suggests, is only for specific events or time periods. For instance, you might assign someone limited power of attorney to sign real estate and financial documents on your behalf if you’re unable to attend the closing on your home loan.
How To Get Power of Attorney
There is no one simple process to cover accepting or giving someone else power over attorney. You’ll have to consider your specific situation.
Say you want to gain power of attorney so you can make decisions about your aging parents’ medical treatment. You should first speak with your parents to determine if they too want this. They’ll have to sign a form granting you power of attorney – forms that will vary by state – and they must be considered mentally competent in order to sign this form.
If someone (a child, relative or trusted advisor) wants you to sign a power of attorney form, remember this rule: You need to give your consent and signature for the power of attorney to take effect. And you can only give power of attorney to someone if you are legally competent to make this decision.
You’ll also need to determine what type of power of attorney you want to accept or give over. We’ll cover these types in more detail later, but it’s important to know that you can accept or give up power of attorney that’s temporary, permanent, only covers medical decisions or only covers financial and tax decisions.
You can find power of attorney forms online, but it’s best to work with an attorney in your state. The power of attorney process can be complicated and it’s best to rely on the legal advice of someone who knows your state’s rules.
How much the power of attorney concept costs will vary. If you accept power of attorney through a legal website, the cost might be $50 or less. If you work with an attorney, the cost will probably be higher because of attorney fees. Again, though, working with an attorney can help you avoid possible legal problems in the future.
Also, remember that though power of attorney is usually given to family members, it doesn’t have to be. You can give power of attorney to friends, co-workers or a trusted financial advisor. You can also accept power of attorney at the request of such non-family members.
The Power Of Attorney Form
Each state’s power of attorney form differs. A good example, though, is the durable power of attorney form for Minnesota. A durable power of attorney, also known as an enduring power of attorney, allows your power of attorney to remain in effect even if you become mentally incompetent.
Say you fall into a coma. With a durable power of attorney, your agent (the person to whom you gave your power of attorney) can still sign a contract on your behalf even though you’re incapacitated.
The top of the Minnesota durable power of attorney form gives a brief description of the powers granted by the document. It also states that you have the right to revoke the power of attorney.
Next, the form asks for the name and address of the person granting power of attorney and the names and addresses of the people receiving power of attorney. These people are listed in the form as attorneys-in-fact.
There’s also a space for successor attorneys-in-fact. These are people you designate to receive your power of attorney if one of your first choices should die, resign or become unable to serve. Listing successors is optional.
You also have the choice of adding an ending date for the power of attorney. This is optional as well. You might choose to grant power of attorney on a permanent basis, meaning you wouldn’t need an end date.
The form then lists several powers that you can grant to your agent. You should put a check mark or “X” next to the powers that you’re granting. You can, for instance, give power of attorney to a family member for banking transactions, insurance transactions or business operating transactions. You can also choose to grant power of attorney to an agent for all the powers listed on the form.
The form next asks whether you want power of attorney to remain in effect if you become incapacitated or incompetent. For example, if you’re injured in an auto accident and fall into a coma, the power of attorney you granted will remain in effect even though you’re incapacitated (if you choose that option).
There’s also a section on the form for your signature and for the signatures of the people who were named your attorneys-in-fact. You’ll also need the signature of a notary public to make the power of attorney form official.
Types Of Power Of Attorney
There are different types of powers of attorney for different purposes. Although understanding these different types of POA can seem overwhelming at first, it’s often very simple: Your specific situation will usually dictate which type of power of attorney you need.
Some of the main types include: general, limited, healthcare, durable and springing. Here’s a look at each of these types:
General Power Of Attorney
A general power of attorney is typically used to allow your agent to handle your affairs during a limited period when you’re unable to do so yourself. You may need this when traveling or if you’re physically or mentally unable to handle your affairs. A general power of attorney is often part of an estate plan.
With a general power of attorney, an agent’s power usually includes the ability to buy, sell and rent property, handle banking transactions, enter safety deposit boxes, file tax returns, tend to government benefits, enter into contracts, purchase life insurance, settle claims and exercise stock rights. You can also grant your agent the ability to maintain your business interests, make transfers to revocable living trusts, hire professional assistance and make gifts.
Limited Power Of Attorney
A limited or “special” power of attorney authorizes your agent to act on your behalf only in specific situations. A limited power of attorney describes the action that an agent will perform and might also come with an expiration date. This power of attorney might only kick in if a specific event takes place.
For instance, you might give an agent the power to sign the documents needed to sell your home if you become mentally incapacitated. You might also give an agent the power to sell stocks on your behalf if those stocks reach a certain value while you’re out of the country and therefore unable to handle the sale yourself.
Common special powers of attorney include the ability for your agent to make financial decisions for you, manage your business interests, handle your banking transactions, make estate planning decisions for you (including gifts), enter safety deposit boxes, handle government issues and U.S. securities transactions, collect debts or borrow money on your behalf, manage real estate for you and sell your personal property.
Healthcare Power Of Attorney
A healthcare power of attorney, also known as a medical power of attorney, allows your agent to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you’re unable to do so. If you’re in surgery and unconscious, you might assign someone power of attorney to make medical decisions on your behalf while you’re undergoing this surgery.
You might also hear this type of power of attorney referred to as a healthcare proxy. Again, this basically means that you’re appointing someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make them on your own.
A medical POA doesn’t forfeit your right to give medical direction to your doctors when you’re able to do it yourself. It only becomes effective when you don’t have that capacity.
This leads to an important question: How is mental incompetence determined? In your power of attorney document, you can name a doctor whom you wish to make that decision or you can require that two licensed physicians agree on your mental capacity. Most organizations won’t allow your healthcare agent to act on your behalf without a doctor’s permission.
Note that a healthcare power of attorney differs from a living will. While a living will (or health care directive) lets a doctor know the types of medications you’d want, only a power of attorney can authorize someone to make decisions for you (such as taking you off life support).
Enduring Or Durable Power Of Attorney
An enduring power of attorney, also called a durable power of attorney in the United States, allows your power of attorney to remain in effect even if you’re mentally incompetent. Without the enduring or durable language, your power of attorney agent can only exercise a power that you’re able to do too. For example, if you’re in a coma and can’t sign a contract, your power of attorney can’t sign for you either.
All types of powers of attorney can be made durable. However, a durable POA may allow your agent to carry out the powers you granted regardless of your health or ability. It’s always important to give your power of attorney to someone trustworthy.
Springing Power Of Attorney
Some people aren’t comfortable granting a loved one or family member power while they’re healthy. A springing power of attorney only takes effect upon a specified event, condition or date. While it may sometimes be the best option, springing power of attorney can get tricky if the specified condition is a formal determination of incapacity.
You’ll need someone to determine that you’re incapacitated. Usually, this person is a doctor. The challenge lies in deciding what exactly equals incapacitated.
Any disagreement over interpreting your degree of incapacity can cause a delay in your agent’s ability to act on your behalf. If this disagreement ends up playing out in court, it can get quite expensive. In addition, springing power of attorney isn’t accepted in all states.
Other Types Of Powers Of Attorney
There are other types of powers of attorney for very specific purposes including care and custody of children, financial transactions and the sale of vehicles.
As its name suggests, durable financial power of attorney gives an agent power to make financial decisions on your behalf. This power usually kicks in if you become incapacitated and can’t make these financial decisions on your own.
A power of attorney for childcare allows you to appoint an agent who will take care of your children temporarily when you’re unable to do so. You might turn to this power of attorney if you have to face jail time or enter a lengthy rehab stay and don’t want to lose custody of your children.
As you can see, the various types of powers of attorney have a specific function and purpose depending on your needs. Think about the person or organization you’d like to designate as your agent or attorney-in-fact, and have a backup plan if that person or organization is incapable or refuses to accept their role. You should consult a lawyer for any questions about the best type of power of attorney for you.
However, if you have questions about using a power of attorney to buy or sell a house, please check with a licensed financial expert.
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