granting power of attorney who are the agents

When you are given power of attorney by someone (referred to as the grantor, principal,, or donor), you are legally empowered to act as their agent. You can conduct business transactions as outlined in a general or limited power of attorney agreement, and in the eyes of the law, you are the grantor.

Full Answer

How does an agent use a power of attorney?

The person designated to be the agent assumes certain responsibilities. First and foremost, the agent is obligated to act in the principal’s best interest. The agent must always follow the principal’s directions. Agents are “fiduciaries,” which means that the agent must act with the highest degree of good faith in behalf of their principals.

What are the duties of an agent under a power of attorney?

Mar 17, 2022 · The POA gives the attorney in fact (also known as the agent) the power to make decisions about your affairs. The type of POA you create dictates which affairs you are granting power over. The decision-making power of an attorney-in-fact takes effect at different times depending on which POA you choose.

Who is the agent in a power of attorney?

Limited vs. General Power of Attorney. When granting power of attorney, you have the option to grant a general power of attorney, which gives the agent broad and sweeping authority over your assets and other financial affairs. A general power of attorney allows the agent to take any actions the principal can take.

What can a power of attorney agent do?

The person named in a power of attorney to act on your behalf is commonly referred to as your "agent" or "attorney-in-fact." With a valid power of attorney, your agent can take any action permitted in the document. Often your agent must present …

What is Durable POA?

A “durable” POA remains in force to enable the agent to manage the creator’s affairs, and a “springing” POA comes into effect only if and when the creator of the POA becomes incapacitated. A medical or healthcare POA enables an agent to make medical decisions on behalf of an incapacitated person.

Why do parents need POAs?

Ask parents to create POAs for the sake of everyone in the family—including the children and grandchildren— who may be harmed by the complications and costs that result if a parent is incapacitated without a durable POA in place to manage the parent’s affairs.

Why does a power of attorney end?

A power of attorney can end for a number of reasons, such as when the principal dies, the principal revokes it, a court invalidates it, the principal divorces their spouse, who happens to be the agent, or the agent can no longer carry out the outlined responsibilities. Conventional POAs lapse when the creator becomes incapacitated.

What is the name of the person who gives the POA?

The term for the person granting the POA is the "principal." The individual who receives the power of attorney is called either the "agent" or the "attorney-in-fact." Check whether your state requires that you use specific terminology.

What is a limited power of attorney?

A limited power of attorney gives the agent the power to act on behalf of the principal in specific matters or events. For example, the limited POA may explicitly state that the agent is only allowed to manage the principal's retirement accounts.

How to start a power of attorney?

A better way to start the process of establishing a power of attorney is by locating an attorney who specializes in family law in your state. If attorney's fees are more than you can afford, legal services offices staffed with credentialed attorneys exist in virtually every part of the United States.

What is a POA?

Key Takeaways. A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document giving one person, the agent or attorney-in-fact, the power to act for another person, the principal. The agent can have broad legal authority or limited authority to make decisions about the principal's property, finances, or medical care. The power of attorney is often used ...

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a document that lets you name someone to make decisions on your behalf. This appointment can take effect immediately if you become unable to make those decisions on your own.

What is a POA?

A power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows you to appoint a person or organization to manage your property, financial, or medical affairs if you become unable to do so.

What is a power of attorney for health care?

A health care power of attorney grants your agent authority to make medical decisions for you if you are unconscious, mentally incompetent, or otherwise unable to make decisions on your own. While not the same thing as a living will, many states allow you to include your preference about being kept on life support.

What to do if your power of attorney is not able to determine mental competency?

If you think your mental capability may be questioned, have a doctor verify it in writing. If your power of attorney doesn't specify requirements for determining mental competency, your agent will still need a written doctor's confirmation of your incompetence in order to do business on your behalf. A court may even be required to decide the ...

What happens if you can't review updates?

If you are unable to review updates yourself, direct your agent to give an account to a third party. As for legal liability, an agent is held responsible only for intentional misconduct, not for unknowingly doing something wrong. This protection is included in power of attorney documents to encourage people to accept agent responsibilities.

Why do you need multiple agents?

Multiple agents can ensure more sound decisions, acting as checks and balances against one another. The downside is that multiple agents can disagree and one person's schedule can potentially delay important transactions or signings of legal documents. If you appoint only one agent, have a backup.

What is the best way to choose a power of attorney?

Trust is a key factor when choosing an agent for your power of attorney. Whether the agent selected is a friend, relative, organization, or attorney, you need someone who will look out for your best interests, respect your wishes, and won't abuse the powers granted to him or her. It is important for an agent to keep accurate records ...

What powers do a power of attorney have?

Similarly, a healthcare power of attorney usually grants the attorney-in-fact broad decision-making about: 1 Choosing doctors 2 Consenting to medical procedures, surgeries, and the administration of medication 3 Choosing an appropriate care facility for the principal (for example, a hospital, nursing home, rehab center, or assisted living community) 4 How to best fulfill the principal's wishes under a living will or advance medical directive

What information is needed for a power of attorney?

Fill in the basic information. Every document must include the following basic information: Principal's full name, permanent address, and phone number. Agent/attorney-in-fact's full name, permanent address, and phone number.

Why is a power of attorney important?

A power of attorney is an important document that can set you up with the help you may need from a trusted individual. Make sure you follow the applicable laws in your state so that the form will be valid whenever the time comes for your selected attorney-in-fact to make decisions for you.

How to write a power of attorney?

If you want to write a power of attorney yourself, follow these steps: 1. Research state law. Each state has passed one or more laws governing these documents. Often, financial powers of attorney are subject to one statute while healthcare powers of attorney are subject to a different statute.

What is the scope of an agent's authority?

Scope of the agent's authority: for example, the categories of the principal's assets the agent can manage, the types of financial transactions the agent can complete, or the range of medical decisions the agent can make. Any specific limits on the agent's authority or any other special instructions for the agent. 3.

What is the job of a principal?

Buying or selling real estate, stock, and other assets. Depositing and withdrawing money from the principal's bank, investment, and retirement accounts (and making investment decisions for such accounts) Purchasing or terminating insurance policies and annuity contracts.

Can a power of attorney be broad?

Although a power of attorney can be as broad or narrow as the principal wants, a typical situation involves the principal giving the attorney-in-fact enough authority to manage some aspect of the principal's life. For example, most financial powers of attorney empower the agent to complete transactions such as:

What is the power of attorney in fact?

Generally, the law of the state in which you reside at the time you sign a power of attorney will govern the powers and actions of your agent under that document.

What to do if you are called upon to take action as someone's agent?

If you are ever called upon to take action as someone’s agent, you should consult with an attorney about actions you can and cannot take and whether there are any precautionary steps you should take to minimize the likelihood of someone challenging your actions.

How long does a power of attorney last?

Today, most states permit a "durable" power of attorney that remains valid once signed until you die or revoke the document.

Why do you need a power of attorney?

Another important reason to use power of attorney is to prepare for situations when you may not be able to act on your own behalf due to absence or incapacity. Such a disability may be temporary, for example, due to travel, accident, or illness, or it may be permanent.

Why is a power of attorney important?

A power of attorney allows you to choose who will act for you and defines his or her authority and its limits, if any.

What are the qualifications to be an attorney in fact?

There are no special qualifications necessary for someone to act as an attorney-in-fact except that the person must not be a minor or otherwise incapacitated. The best choice is someone you trust. Integrity, not financial acumen, is often the most important trait of a potential agent.

What is a springing power of attorney?

The power may take effect immediately, or only upon the occurrence of a future event, usually a determination that you are unable to act for yourself due to mental or physical disability. The latter is called a "springing" power of attorney.

What is Power of Attorney?

Power of attorney is a legal document that states an individual or entity has the right to act on the behalf of another person in legal or financial matters. The principal (person granting power of attorney) signs the document, and explicitly grants the agent (individual/entity being granted the power of attorney) the right to act on their behalf.

Why do Surety Bonds Require Power of Attorney?

The power of attorney verifies the individual signing the bond is an appointed representative of the surety company and provides the obligee with confirmation that the surety company will assume full liability for all valid bond claims.

Why Do Your Customers Need to Submit Power of Attorney Forms?

Your customers must submit a power of attorney form with their bond to confirm with the obligee that the bond is valid. Obligees typically understand how surety bonds work, after all, they’re the ones requiring them in the first place.

Do Your Customers Have any Additional Responsibilities Regarding Power of Attorney?

No, your customers’ only responsibility is ensuring that they submit the power of attorney form to the obligee along with their bond.

How Can an Insurance Agent Obtain a Surety Bond?

BondExchange makes obtaining surety bonds easy. Simply log in to your account and use our keyword search to find your bond in our database. Don’t have a login? Enroll now and let us help you satisfy your customers’ needs.

Scope of Authority

Drafting A Power of Attorney

• Since this is a legal document governed by state law, it is not enforceable unless it complies with the laws of the applicable state (in most cases, the state of the principal's permanent residence). The easiest way to grant an enforceable document is to hire a lawyer licensed to practice in the relevant state. If you want to write a power of attor...

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