Power of attorney can protect your loved ones

The laws for creating a power of attorney vary depending on location, but there are some general similarities regardless of geography.

Many people believe their families will be able to step in if an event occurs that leaves them incapacitated and unable to make decisions for themselves. Unfortunately, this is not always true. If a person is not named as an agent or granted legal access to financial, medical and other pertinent information, family members’ hands may be tied.

In addition, the government may appoint someone to make certain decisions for an individual if no POA is named. 

Just about everyone can benefit from establishing an attorney-in-fact. Doing so does not mean they cannot live independently, but it will remove the legal barriers involved should a person no longer be physically or mentally capable of managing certain tasks.

Power of attorney is a broad term that covers various aspects of decision-making.

According to the legal resource ‘Lectric Law Library, the main types of POA include general power of attorney, healthcare power of attorney, durable power of attorney and special power of attorney. Many of the responsibilities overlap, but there are some subtle legal differences.

For example, durable power of attorney relates to all the appointments involved in general, special and healthcare powers of attorney being made ‘durable.’ This means the document will remain in effect or take effect if a person becomes mentally incompetent. Certain powers of attorney may fall within a certain time period.

An agent appointed through POA may be able to handle the following, or more, depending on the verbiage of the document:

• banking transactions
• buying or selling property
• settling claims
• filing tax returns
• managing government-supplied benefits
• maintaining business interests
• making estate-planning decisions
• deciding on medical treatments
• selling personal property
• fulfilling advanced healthcare directives

Although a power of attorney document can be filled out and an agent appointed on one’s own, working with an estate-planning attorney to better understand the intricacies of this vital document is advised.