What is a Power of Attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows you (the Principal), to give another person (the Agent) the authority to act on your behalf with respect to property. By default, once the Principal signs the statutory power of attorney form, the Agent immediately has the authority to make decisions regarding the Principal’s property. Many people ask “does this mean my Agent can go withdraw money from my bank account today.” The answer is yes. That is why it’s important to choose a person you trust to serve as your Agent.

The power of attorney document allows the Principal to choose what powers they want to convey to their Agent. The power of attorney form gives the Principal a lot of options to customize their Agent’s authority, and it also gives the Principal the option to customize when the power of attorney takes effect. For example, some people don’t want their Agent to immediately have authority to act on their behalf. I can draft your power of attorney document to accommodate those wishes. These subtle customizations are why it is important to consult an attorney to assist you in the process of drafting and executing a power of attorney document.

Call, text, email, or complete the contact form on my website to get in touch with me today about helping prepare a power of attorney for you that meets your individualized needs, and to ensure it is done correctly.