Power of Attorney
A power of attorney lets you choose a trusted person or organization to handle your financial, legal, or health care matters if you are unavailable or unable to manage them for yourself. The person or organization you choose to act on your behalf.
A power of attorney must be signed by the person granting the authority and that person must be mentally competent at the time of the signing in order to make the document legally binding.
Power of Attorney Types
General Power Of Attorney
Limited Power Of Attorney
Health Care Power Of Attorney
General Power Of Attorney
A General Power of Attorney is commonly used to allow another person to handle the following types of transactions for you:
Banking transactions
Entering safety deposit boxes
Buying and selling property
Purchasing life insurance
Settling claims
Entering into contracts
Belongings After You're Gone
Exercising stock rights
Buying, managing or selling real estate
Filing tax returns
Handling matters related to government benefits
Limited Power Of Attorney
A limited power of attorney, sometimes called a "special" power of attorney, authorizes your attorney-in-fact to act on your behalf only in specific situations. A limited power of attorney allows you to give only specific powers to the person or organization you appoint as your attorney-in-fact. For example, you could authorize someone to sell a specific item for you, such as a house.
Health Care Power Of Attorney
A health care power of attorney allows you to appoint someone to make health care decisions for you. A health care power of attorney is different from a living will, which only allows you to express your wishes concerning life-sustaining procedures. Having a health care power of attorney doesn't cancel your right to give medical direction to physicians and other health care providers when you're able to do so. A health care power of attorney only becomes effective when you don't have the capacity to give, withdraw, or withhold informed consent regarding your health care.