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What Is A Power Of Attorney?


A power of attorney is a document in which one person gives another person the right to act on their behalf, such as by signing documents or making decisions for them.

What Is A Principal Power Of Attorney?

The principal in the power of attorney is the person who is giving the authority and allowing someone else to make decisions on their behalf.

How Is Incapacity Defined?

Incapacity is the inability to make decisions, communicate decisions, or resist undue influence—all of which could be caused by physical, emotional, or mental impairment.

Why Should I Have A Power Of Attorney?

A power of attorney can help someone avoid a conservatorship, which is similar to guardianship over an adult. Conservatorships are court-ordered, very costly, and very time-consuming.

What Are The Different Types Of Power Of Attorney Forms?

There are two basic types of power of attorney forms: general powers of attorney and limited powers of attorney. A general power of attorney gives very broad authority for someone to act on behalf of another person, while limited powers of attorney give a person the authority to act on behalf of someone else only in a limited number or type of transactions. Limited or specific powers of attorney are granted when a person is not incapacitated but simply unavailable to process a transaction, or when it is inconvenient for them to process a transaction. The power of attorney can also be durable or an ordinary power of attorney. A durable power of attorney is one in which the person making decisions continues to have authority even after the principal becomes incapacitated.

What is The Difference Between A Power Of Attorney And A Conservatorship?

A power of attorney is done informally by the principal and does not require that they go to court, whereas a conservatorship requires a court appearance in order to be effective.

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What Is A Medical Power Of Attorney?

A medical power of attorney is a document in which one person gives another person the right to act or make medical decisions on their behalf. In California, a medical power of attorney is part of a larger document called an advance healthcare directive, which includes decisions about living conditions, medical treatments, and final arrangements (e.g. burial, cremation, funeral, memorial service).

Does The Person Acting As My Power Of Attorney Have Unlimited Power?

The person acting as your power of attorney (known as the ‘attorney in fact’ or ‘agent’) does not have unlimited power; they are required to do things only in the principal’s best interests. They are expressly prohibited from self-dealing and acting in ways which would benefit the agent or decision maker.

Can I Have Multiple Agents In My Power Of Attorney?

It’s possible to have multiple persons named in a power of attorney document, but this can lead to logistical problems. This is because if multiple people are named, then all of those persons would need to be in the same place at the same time in order to exercise their decision-making authority.

What If My Agent Dies Or Becomes Incapacitated?

In most cases, successor agents will be named in the documents so that there will be someone prepared to serve in the event that the agent dies or becomes incapacitated. If there is no one named as a successor, then a power of attorney document will terminate and have no effect.

For more information on Needs Of Heirs In Inheritance Planning, a free initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (626) 385-6303 today.

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