how to get power of attorney for someone out of state

by Alfonso Thompson MD 10 min read

The power of attorney should be drawn in the form specified or recommended by the state where the grantor (principal) lives, and notarized there (although it can be signed and notarized elsewhere iif the principal is away from home). It should then be sent (mail will do) to the agent (the person named in the POA).

Full Answer

What is power of attorney and how does it work?

 · How to Get a POA In most cases, all the principal needs to do to create a valid POA is properly complete and sign the POA document in front of a witness and have it notarized. The principal must be competent to give her authority for the POA to be effective.

What can you do with a power of attorney?

 · A power of attorney (POA) is simply legal permission for one person to act on behalf of, and in the interest of, another. I held a power of attorney for my mother, and later for my father, who lived in one state while I lived in another, and acted under it to do business with various entities in multiple third states. There was no major problem.

What does a power of attorney allow you to do?

 · Broadly speaking, you get power of attorney for a parent by having him or her name you as the agent in a POA document that he or she has signed while sound of mind. However, the process is rarely as simple as it seems, especially when it comes to ensuring that your power of attorney will be recognized by third parties.

Who should get a power of attorney?

Select the Power of Attorney feature Provide the necessary details for us to assess your situation Confirm whether you want to get the document notarized We will create a personalized power of attorney document and send it along with two must-read notices. In case your state requires the document to be notarized, we can help!

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What is a power of attorney?

In the United States, a Power of Attorney enables a person to legally make medical, financial, and certain personal decisions (such as recommending a guardian) for another person. You may need to grant someone power of attorney if you are incapable of handling all or part of your affairs for a period of time.

How to get guardianship if you have no power of attorney?

Pursue legal guardianship if you cannot obtain power of attorney. If the person is already mentally incapacitated and did not grant power of attorney in a living will, it may be necessary to get conservatorship or adult guardianship. In most regards, the authority held by a guardian is similar to (but more limited than) those held by someone with power of attorney. A guardian is still accountable to the court, and must provide regular reports of transactions. To become a guardian of someone, a court must deem the principal to be “legally incompetent." In other words, they are judged to be unable to meet their own basic needs. If you believe someone you known meets the criteria for incompetence, you may petition the court to be named guardian.

What is an ordinary power of attorney?

An ordinary or general power of attorney is comprehensive. It gives the agent all the powers, rights, and responsibilities that the person granting POA has. A person can use an ordinary power of attorney if s/he is not incapacitated but needs help in some areas. An ordinary power of attorney usually ends with the death or incapacitation of the person granting POA.

Why is notarizing a power of attorney important?

Notarizing the power of attorney document reduces the chance that it will be contested by an outside party.

How many witnesses are needed to sign a power of attorney?

Gather witnesses. In some states it is necessary to have the signing of the document witnesses by one or two people. For instance, in Florida, a power of attorney document must be signed by two witnesses while in Utah, no witnesses are required.

Why is it important to have a power of attorney?

Because the decisions that the person holding power of attorney makes are legally considered the decisions of the principal, it's vital that the agent be someone you trust absolutely and without question. Consider the following when thinking about possible agents: Consider how close the candidate is to the principal.

What happens when you file a guardianship petition?

Once you file the petition, the court will schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the proposed guardian must establish the incompetence of the proposed ward (the principal) and that no suitable alternatives to guardianship are feasible.

How to sign a power of attorney?

The power of attorney should be drawn in the form specified or recommended by the state where the grantor (principal) lives, and notarized there. It should then be sent (mail will do) to the agent (the person named in the POA). Some states want the agent to sign a provision of the POA saying that the agent accepts the POA and will act properly under it. This may need to be separately notarized. You will need to provide copies of the POA to people or firms you want to do business with under its authority. Some of them may want you to sign a separate paper in which you state under oath that the POA is valid, and has not been revoked.

Where should a power of attorney be drawn?

The power of attorney should be drawn in the form specified or recommended by the state where the grantor (principal) lives, and notarized there. It should then be sent (mail will do) to the agent (the person named in the POA).

What is POA in real estate?

The POA should sate what matters, or categories of matters, the agent is authorized to handle. It can be limited to a single transaction, or cover all of the principal's affairs, or something between. It can include an expiration date, but usually will not. Any POA is cancelled if the principal dies.

What is a POA?

A power of attorney (POA) is simply legal permission for one person to act on behalf of, and in the interest of, another. I held a power of attorney for my mother, and later for my father, who lived in one state while I lived in another, and acted under it to do business with various entities in multiple third states.

Can a notary notarize POA?

If the principal has problems with travel, it may be possible to arrange for a notary to come to his or her residence to have the document singed and notarized, for an appropriate fee. The principal will probably need ID to show that s/he is the person named in the POA document.

Can a lawyer draw up a POA?

You can have a lawyer draw up a POA, but there are software programs that will take the principal through a questionnaire and put together a POA document appropriate to the specific situation and the principal's state of residence.

Can a POA be cancelled if the principal dies?

Any POA is cancelled if the principal dies. You can have a lawyer draw up a POA, but there are software programs that will take the principal through a questionnaire and put together a POA document appropriate to the specific situation and the principal's state of residence.

How to choose a power of attorney?

Step 1 – Choose an Agent. Select and ask someone that you trust if they would like to be your “Agent” or “Attorney-in-Fact”. Especially for a durable power of attorney, the agent selected should be someone you have trusted most of your life.

What is a power of attorney?

Power of attorney is a legal document that allows an individual (known as the “Principal”) to select someone else (“Agent” or “Attorney-in-Fact”) to handle their business affairs, medical responsibilities, or any decision that requires someone else to take over an activity based on the Principal’s best interest and intentions. ...

What does revocation of power of attorney mean?

Revocation Power of Attorney – To cancel or void a power of attorney document.

How many steps are required to get a power of attorney?

An individual may get power of attorney for any type in five (5) easy steps:

How many witnesses do you need for a notary?

In most cases, a Notary Public will need to be used or Two (2) Witnesses. STATE. DURABLE.

Can a principal use a power of attorney?

For other nominations, a principal may assign power of attorney under a special circumstance with the limited form. In addition, if the principal is looking to have someone only handle personal and business filings the tax power of attorney should be used.

Do you need to record a power of attorney?

It is important for all parties involved to have copies of their form. A power of attorney does not need to be recorded with any government office and is primarily held by the Principal and Agent (s).

How to get a power of attorney for a parent?

Broadly speaking, you get power of attorney for a parent by having him or her name you as the agent in a POA document that he or she has signed while sound of mind. However, the process is rarely as simple as it seems, especially when it comes to ensuring that your power of attorney will be recognized by third parties. Things can also become more complicated if you're trying to get power of attorney for a sick parent who is already suffering from dementia or another terminal illness or incurable condition that affects his or her ability to communicate or make reasoned decisions.

What is the duty of a power of attorney agent?

The duty of a power of attorney agent is to always act in the best interests of the principal.

What is POA agreement?

Depending on the particular agreement, a power of attorney covers a broad or narrow set of responsibilities, usually related to financial and/or medical and caregiving matters.

What is Durable Power of Attorney?

So, what is a durable power of attorney? It's an agreement that goes into effect right away and gives an agent the authority to carry out his or her specified responsibilities even after the principal becomes incapacitated. Essentially, the difference between a "general power of attorney" and a "durable power of attorney" is that a general POA terminates when the principal is deemed to lack capacity, whereas a durable POA stays valid beyond that point. In most cases, a durable power of attorney covers financial responsibilities, but some people also use it to cover certain duties related to caregiving or healthcare.

What is POA in law?

A POA document is generally a written agreement between two people: (1) the principal (sometimes called the grantor) and (2) the agent (sometimes called the attorney-in-fact). The agent is the person appointed to act on behalf of the principal. So your parent (the principal) can grant you (the agent) certain powers of attorney.

How to sign as a POA agent?

For example, you sign as a power of attorney agent by using a formula like "Your Parent's Name, by Your Name under POA." (If your name was John Doe and your parent's name was Jane Doe, your signature would be "Jane Doe, by John Doe under POA.")

When does a springing POA take effect?

Unlike most other types of POA documents, a springing POA agreement doesn't take effect until a specified date or a particular event takes place. For example, your parent may not want you to have any authority until he or she becomes incapacitated or turns a certain age.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney is a legal document that allows someone (the principal) to give another person (the agent) the legal power to make decisions on the principal's behalf. An agent is sometimes called an attorney-in-fact or a health care proxy when the power of attorney concerns health care. An agent must be an adult.

What happens if a power of attorney is not durable?

In some states, if your power of attorney does not have language that it is durable, it will be an ordinary power of attorney and your agent's power will cease if you are in a coma or lack the mental ability to make decisions for yourself.

What happens if an agent breaches their fiduciary duty?

A breach of this fiduciary duty could result in civil lawsuits. In extreme cases of fraud or embezzlement, an agent could face criminal prosecution. However, going to court after a breach will do little to help a principal if the assets are unrecoverable because the agent has already used them.

What happens when you want someone else to make decisions on your behalf?

Situations can arise when you will want someone else to make decisions on your behalf. You may become mentally incapacitated or want someone with expertise about finances to handle specific financial decisions. Before someone can make legally binding decisions on your behalf, you will need a power of attorney.

What does a living will tell you?

A living will tells doctors what treatment you want at the end of your life. Your health care agent should be someone who understands your wishes. You can appoint an agent for health care and one for finances, but beware that your agent for financial decisions could keep your health care agent from honoring your wishes by refusing to pay for certain procedures.

When does a springing power of attorney become effective?

A springing power of attorney only becomes effective if the principal becomes incapacitated. If you want your agent to have powers over your finances or health care only when you cannot make your own decisions, you could use a springing power of attorney.

Can a power of attorney be springing?

Be careful choosing this option. Your power of attorney should state how incapacity is determined to avoid conflicts. Even with a clear description of incapacity, a springing power of attorney can create delays or litigation if there is disagreement among your loved ones.

What is a power of attorney?

A power of attorney document holds serious gravity as it allows an agent or attorney-in-fact to handle financial, medical, and other matters on your behalf. Abuse of POA rights and various fraudulent activities are not uncommon, so you should choose your agent with caution. If you’re wondering how to take a power of attorney away from someone, ...

When does a limited powers of attorney end?

Limited powers of attorney usually have the end date as they cover specific periods when, for instance, you are: Out of the country for a finite period. Unavailable and unable to take care of your affairs for a while. With the termination date, the agent’s privileges and responsibilities will end automatically. Revocation.

What is a POA document?

A well-prepared POA document can include all necessary measures to prevent disputes, abuse, or fraud. Register for DoNotPay to receive a power of attorney document to fulfill your specific requirements.

What to do if the principal refuses to remove the agent?

If the latter is not the case, i.e., the principal is competent but still refuses to remove the agent and revoke the POA, you should consult your lawyer and try to find another legal way to convince a judge to override the POA.

How to change your parent's will?

Change or alter your parent’s will. Transfer power of attorney to another person. Act in a manner that is not in your parent’s best interest. Use power of attorney after your parent’s death to make decisions (unless the agent is named the executor of your parent’s will, too)

What are the third parties that your agent had contact with on your behalf?

Third parties that your agent had contact with on your behalf, e.g., your doctors, bank, government institutions, etc.

Can DoNotPay generate POA?

The answer is NO! Let DoNotPay generate a POA document tailored to your needs and state requirements .

What is an elder law attorney?

It most definately depends on the laws governing the State of Alabama. An Elder Attorney can easily advise you with regards to these important questions that you are experiencing at this time in your life.

Can an elder law attorney answer questions?

It is possible, contact the local area agency on aging, they will be able to refer you to someone that can provide answers. You want to make sure everything you want is covered and is transferable to the other state. An elder law attorney should be able to answer your questions. This field is required.

Can you appoint someone to be your POA?

You can appoint anyone to be your POA, however, being in another state makes it more difficult to manage your care and see what is happening with your care in person.

Can anyone be a poa?

While theoretically it should be possible to have anybody, anywhere, be poa, on a very practical day-to day level it gets too expensive too fast....so most lawyers (if they are ethical) will recommend a LOCAL person, as in, less than an hour drive away, and moreover, someone who is fully ENGAGED with the Principal.

Does DPOA need to be done in AL?

DPOA document needs to be done by legal in your state (AL), while your at it, would want to get a MPOA, an overall HIPPA form, an Guardianship incase of Incapacity statement & an update (codicil) to your will done all at the same time.

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